Summer Bucket List: COVID-19 Edition

June 28, 2020June 25, 2020 Jolene McNutt 0 Comments Military Life, travel

I had a moment of… Panic? Disappointment? Fear? Anxiety? Stress? Well, definitely a mix of those emotions when my son’s teacher said that they were done with school work… three weeks earlier than I had expected.

Summer’s here.

When I realized that school was over, my stomach dropped. Working part time from home while trying to keep a 9 year old engaged in healthy behaviors hasn’t been easy. Just yesterday, he spent almost the entire day parked in the same chair. I feel like summer break should be coming to an end… but it has only just begun.

I’ve also been mourning the fact that most of our summer plans are cancelled or at least up in the air. In comparison, last summer we hosted family and friends from mid-May through mid-August. Every. Single. Week. with the exception of two weeks while I was visiting family in Wisconsin!

This summer was beginning to feel like it had been cancelled.

If I had to guess, I would guess that I’m not the only one who feels this way.

So, first, let’s just agree that summer is not cancelled.

It’s different. Sure. But we can still make the most of summer while maintaining social consciousness, whether with your spouse, or your children, or even your best friends.

Let me remind you that I’m just a military spouse and mom. I’m not an expert. You know your community and family better than I do, so take precautions to stay healthy as it fits your unique situation.

I managed to go on a very deep dive into what making the most of this summer might look like, and I’ve created what I’m calling my Summer Bucket List: COVID-19 Edition. Add comments with your own suggestions below or add to the conversation we started on our AWN Facebook page. We have a whole summer ahead of us, so I’m still looking for ideas!

I began my research with an article published by NPR that examined the risk of 14 top summer activities. This article covers things from a backyard barbeque with friends and neighbors to traveling.

I’ve created a handful of goals—first a list of ideas of what we personally consider safer-activities—these include:

1. Cook out with my neighbors.

We plan to invite our neighbors over for an outdoor picnic or maybe more likely outdoor BYOB happy hour. Our neighbors are all retirees and at a higher risk, so I’m envisioning hauling chairs out to our cul-de-sac or enjoying drinks on the deck but ensuring six feet of separation. I’m also not planning on throwing a block party… Maybe I’ll make plans for that for the summer of 2021! We’ll stick to one or two couples max.

2. Traveling takeout.

I really want to support our local businesses, and sometimes I get bored with my own cooking. I’ve created a list of local restaurants offering takeout (see my shell spreadsheet here that you can fill in). We don’t plan to dine-in this summer. My plan to pair takeout with some alfresco dining in a local secluded park is at the top of my list. It also gives me the opportunity to try out some new restaurants since we tend to always go back to our favorites.

3. Splish, splash!

We love a good day at the beach. Since we’re fortunate enough to be about two hours from the Atlantic coast, we often do quick weekend trips or even day trips. Beach time is absolutely on our bucket list for the summer. We’re just going to play it a bit safe. First, we’ll likely pack our own food or carefully explore takeout options before we leave. I don’t want to be stuck in a long line around all the people!

We are also considering doing one bigger trip this summer rather than multiple smaller trips, renting an Airbnb that has advertised heavy duty cleaning, and spending a bit more to be closer to the beach so we don’t have to use public facilities.

4. Off the beaten path.

We are so lucky to live in North Carolina where we are a few hours from beaches in one direction and mountains in the other. But great locations mean that there are often a greater number of people also exploring. To combat that, I’m working on compiling locations that are not quite as popular.

I primarily use TripAdvisor forums for digging out those hidden gems. I also read up on Google reviews—not only does Google show you times when a location is the busiest, but there are generally reviews. If you’re a deep diver like me, chances are you’ll find a few reviews that will make you feel like it’s a hidden gem or an off the path spot.

5. Take virtual tours.

One of the best things I’ve discovered the last few months are the tremendous incredible online resources available for us to explore. Here’s the thing: The Louvre was not on my bucket list of things to visit in the next decade. Maybe in 20 years when my son is grown and all that. But now, it has made the list.

Zoos, aquariums, museums and so many other treasures can be explored from the comfort of your couch. I’m creating a tour list for our family—my son and I will virtually explore a different location each week. It will give us something to look forward to and a theme for each week this summer!

Theme ideas include: NASA, exploring military museums, exploring other museums (science, art, history, etc.), “visiting” national parks, and even doing a Disney week where we are going to make some Disney recipes, “go on” rides, and probably blast some Disney tunes and watch movies.
Click here if you want to see my personal (very not-type-A) spreadsheet broken down by each week and theme for the entire summer. We’ll add to this as we go, but at least it gives me some framework. Feel free to copy it and use it to create themes for your own week!

Summer is here, and we’re ready to make the most of it in an adjusted way. Actually, when I think about it, it’s a very mil-life way—we’re going be flexible and make the most of the situation. Just like we always do!