My Summer Bucket List

I didn't wear a bathing suit once last summer...not once. How weird is that? Rather, how wrong is that? When I was a kid, I was in a bathing suit every day in the summer. Of course, I grew up in Texas where if you didn't submerge your body in water you'd either burst into flames or melt into your shoes. Now that I live in the northeast, where the summer months disappear faster than a congressman's weiner pics on a twitter page, I like to commit my summer must-dos to a concrete list to ensure I make the most of the sweltering season. Here's what I'd really like to see happen this summer: 

Walk across the Brooklyn and the 59th Street Bridge, preferably with a good buddy at my side.

Take a few day trips out of the city. On the list: Mystic, Connecticut; the Hamptons and Cape May, NJ.

Eat lunch at least once a week down at the Seaport overlooking the river.

Shop as often as possible at the Union Square Greenmarket for summer fresh produce. 

Sip on copious amounts of freshly squeezed lemonade.

Try to recreate some of these exotic iced tea blends from the Brooklyn Smorgasburg.

Since we're on the subject of drinking, why not throw a couple of frosty margaritas in the mix?

This summer I also plan to spend lots of time in my backyard, reading, writing and saying "Hi" a hundred times in a row to the little boy who always peeks through his blinds at me.

And I definitely can't wait to host backyard dinner parties and brunches again!

In my future I see lots of refreshing watermelon...

and smoky ribs with meat falling off the bone...

fruity smoothies and creamy shakes...

and the grand poo-bah of all summertime treats--the ice cream cone. 

I plan to spend this summer under a striped umbrella...

propped up on a patio chair...

and sprawled out wide on a soft beach towel.

I want to go hiking...

and flea marketing...

and beach-going.

I want to listen to live music in the middle of a big park.

And take more than a few leisurely dips in a sparkling pool. Woo-wee! I can't wait!!

What's on your summer must-do list??