Mass. Summer running end of June to end of July that's it? (kitchen, good)

[Parsec]

Originally Posted by Ericthebean

Last week July is usually the beginning of back-to-school sales, closing of the parks and pool and whatever else, the put away the grille for the fall... End of the Tanglewood concert season final goodbyes

New Englanders, being early to rise and plan ahead kind of people, August is back to school

So with that said, don't you think we don't make our summer long enough?

That's still about 6 weeks of summer and Fall is when the fun activities happen in New England anyways. Also if you cut off summer the first week of August that means Fall is nearly 4 months long!

Also, are you joking about the grill being put away for the fall? Fall is when the grill gets the most usage in my family and it stays out all year long. I'm still grilling in the middle of February. Just put on a fleece and grab a beer to stay warm (since "cold" beer is around 40 degrees).

[Ericthebean]

My family closes shop in August. Usually around August 9th-ish I volunteer a good half day to hose down all the patio tables and chairs, put everything back into the shed until next summer, start putting the Summer clothes into the basement...that sort of thing

Fall we don't use the grill much. People like their early around here. It's just how things work. Some friends keep grille open till Labor Day though. Then it's line up at Friendly's

[elhelmete]

Originally Posted by Ericthebean

I just don't want it to be tradition that summer starts July 4th and ends July 27th. Which basically means some years a summer at the beach is a no-go if by chance, the 3 weekends of summer are rained out

What makes you think you're beholden to this vague notion of 'tradition?'

What are you worried about?

You can go to the beach whenever it's nice enough.

Seems silly...

[kingeorge]

More we hear from OP, more confusing it gets.

[Scriptkitten]

Originally Posted by kingeorge

Our school district has many families of mixed nationalities, and having school all year long is out of question. This is the only time of the year available to them, to travel, and connect with relatives abroad. Many private schools knowing that parents are itching to go, and do things elsewhere, release kids as early as May. There is more to life than to be on a perpetual hamster wheel/rat race.

agreed.

[Serious Conversation]

Originally Posted by Ericthebean

I just don't want it to be tradition that summer starts July 4th and ends July 27th. Which basically means some years a summer at the beach is a no-go if by chance, the 3 weekends of summer are rained out

Summer isn't defined by these couple of weeks. You can still do these things at other times during the summer, and can also do them out of the summer season.

[Parsec]

Glad everyone else feels the same as I do. The OP sounds like a robot unable to do anything other than how it's always been done in his family.

[Cliff Clavin]

Originally Posted by Ericthebean

Fall we don't use the grill much. People like their early around here. It's just how things work. Some friends keep grille open till Labor Day though. Then it's line up at Friendly's

That's crazy. Grilling is 4 seasons, not just summer. My family used the grill year-round. I'd be doing the same now if I weren't in a condo.

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by Cliff Clavin

That's crazy. Grilling is 4 seasons, not just summer. My family used the grill year-round. I'd be doing the same now if I weren't in a condo.

I lived in a condo for 4-5 years where I could only use an electric grill on my patio. I couldn't wait to move out of there so I could have a real BBQ again.

[Dm84]

I grill in the dead of winter. If you can shovel snow for an hour or two, you can figure out how to grill for 20 minutes without freezing to death.