How'd your summer go?

[cyberdreamz]

There's only two more days of august left... So, how did you spend your summer this year? Anything particularly memorable?

I spent a lot more time outside - I did always enjoy walking, but this year I really went out of my way to explore parts of my city I don't frequent, especially not on my own. I made it a goal to visit a bunch of parks and sit down to draw in them. Didn't get to every park on my list, but that's alright, still some time left before it gets too cold (and there's always next year)
One of the parks has a bookshelf where people can leave and take books for free (I don't know if this is a thing in other countries or not. You guys have bookcrossing shelves? They're pretty cool. Though I rarely ever find anything of interest there) and I found a disk with a bunch of old graphic design software there Gotta play around with it at some point. Never heard of Real-DRAW before but it seems like an interesting program

(I guess there are still two days left to spend, so feel free to come back to this thread later  )

[midtune]

I had a good summer I'd say. Not as lit as my last one, but more filled. I got to go on some small trips, and each one made me feel good :) I also got into some new interests. The first being neocities/here/old web. I was missing the old internet and fell into a rabbithole which led me to all this stuff. Literally life changing, like I found my people!! I started working on my site and it's been a headache but also v rewarding. I also got a Kindle and I'm so glad I did. It got me back into reading after so long. Still waiting for a jailbreak tho. However I'm glad we're entering fall. It's lowkey my favorite season n I'd rather b cold then warm. I do wish I could've spent more time outside, but also I love being isolated in my lil room when I'm not working or meeting social obligations. Also yes! We've got them here too. We call them little libraries, n they're usually on a random street corner, or at a local church. That reminds me, I need to go donate some of my books...

[ilikepie]

That sounds great! I sorta did similar things, I had a few college classes this summer but they were more in the city and I  visited some new cafes, it was really nice! One had a delicious strawberry matcha I'm wanting right now at 2 in the morning  I've also worked a lot on my website so I suppose there's that, too. I've seen those bookshelves you speak of! We even have trinket boxes here, where people bring trinkets for others to take, it's a very cute idea and I remembered it while reading that bit of your post... and nice find on the disk, that sort of stuff is really cool.

[Dequake]

Phew, oh man. Working mostly. Clocked in at about 60 hours a week. This summer season in particular has been especially harsh on the restaurant biz. Lots of fun tho! I like the tempo. Tho once I finally quit my job a few weeks ago, I uncontrollably cried the entire day after. Maybe stress, part relief. And impending doom towards the following move to another city. (Which went HORRIBLY might I add. But that's a story for another post).

It was also my first medicated summer. Started HRT in April. Changed my name as well a month ago. Could explain why I was so emotional towards the end. Also lots of nicotine to deal with work. Currently trying to cut down again.

I do love a good public bookshelf. I rarely take anything from them as I have enough of a backlog at home. And I rarely leave books either since it's normally just pure chance that I happen upon one. But they serve a different purpose to me apart from a purely utilitarian one. It's an exclamation of "I was here! I matter! Here is a gift from me to you!". I find it heartwarming. I'll probably never meet the donors of these books, but I don't need to. I already know something very important about who these strangers are. They are compassionate.

Autumn is what I wish for the most. To brace the wind and the rain, armed with nothing but a humble coat and umbrella. When nature, in deceptive beauty sings a final hurrah, an explosion of colour before impending frost. Then I am most at home.

[Dan Q]

For the most part pretty spectacular. I spent a week in France and a few weeks in Spain, the latter arranged around the total solar eclipse (which was amazing). We're not usually in a position (either of time or money) to make such a huge summer adventure happen, but after some years of planning and saving we finally did. (Of course, in hindsight we shouldn't have, but we didn't know when we started our plans that we'd be living in temporary accommodation right now following our house flood in February, which has constrained us psychologically and financially all year! tl;dr: we had an amazing summer doing things that we wouldn't have attempted were it not for the fact that we already committed to the plans years prior.)

So I shan't complain. Life's pretty stressful in general right now between work, volunteering, various side projects and house-insurance-wrangling-insanity (honestly: there's like a full-time job in getting flooded out of your home; do not recommend!), but I'm trying to shift into a better self-care mindset to compensate (should have done that six months ago, but there you go).

I didn't enjoy how hot this summer was here in Europe. Especially as this is clearly the shape of things to come. But otherwise, it was pretty good, thanks.

[Melooon]

I didn't have any literal disasters, but I live in an attic room in the inner city and essentially the whole house heat-faild, it became unlivable and impossible to work, and I had to couch surf for a full month. I don't think I can stay here next year, but I also cant afford to move - so summer essentially is now a looming void next year

That aside... everyone I know is alive and in good health, staying with family had some happy days, money was non existent but all bills were covered.. however I'm very glad summer ending and looking forward to a long cold winter  

[candycanearter07]

boring, my parents made me go to summer school and i didnt really do anything else besides sometimes hanging out with my friend