One of the greatest things about summer is that, no matter how much responsibility might actually exist in your life, none of it seems to be all that pressing. What I mean is that summer has this fascinating quality that seems to bring out the joys in life.

As an adult, I can say that most times I don't mind bearing responsibility. In fact, the independent side of me revels in it. Still, though, I love to kick back and shoot the shit, so to speak. You know, take life one day at a time, and enjoy the heck out of every passing minute. Summer seems to be the one time of year during which this is not only possible, but it is expected.

Long days filled with sunshine, evenings demanding that you watch the sunset, and nights that invariably merit star-gazing. Summer is about taking a step back and really enjoying life instead of letting it pass you by.

Sure, there are those out there who would disagree, and insist that responsibility still takes precedence over enjoying life for a change. What makes summer even more perfect is that it allows opportunity to handle the business, responsibility, and the various other mundane: blustery days and the occasional excruciatingly hot day. I would include rainy days, but those are always fun to go out and about, and to spend money saved for just such a day.

At least half the meals you eat throughout the summer should be outside. Picnics are good, barbecues are mandatory. If you eat at a restaurant, do be sure to eat on the patio, assuming, of course, that it has one.

Perhaps, at this point, you might be wondering why it is that I suddenly decided to write a post like this. Suffice it to say that this is exactly how my summer has been going thus far, and it has been nothing short of wonderful. Only I'm a little behind on getting a whole bunch of stuff done, and so am stuck having to do it on a beautiful day.

And so I will grumble, but I am inspired to get it done quickly, so as not to have broken too many of the rules of summer.