April 2011 brought travel with a capital T. Every week, I was somewhere else. It was delightful in most ways for a lover of travel. Even the short hops to the sunny-side of the Rocky Mountains felt like we were a million miles away. But at the end of the month, I was exhausted and looking forward to a summer where I could sit still.
We all realize that Calgary is winter for nine months of the year. Then, in between winter, there are these three months – not always the same ones, that are really loooovvvveeelllyyyy. They are the reasons that I plant flowers, that I decorate my patio, and that I stock up on Gewurztraminer. Knowing this, and being only three-years into my Calgary adventure, its insane to me that people actually leave during the summer.
The month of June houses every work event that organizations can possibly fit in because come July – poof! – everyone is gone. Lost to their RVs, cabins in Ontario, and house-boating…and maybe the Stampede. I’ve been asked many times about my travel plans for this summer. When I reply that I have “none”, people are shocked. Really, folks? Ask me about my November plans, and I’ll tell you elaborately how I’ll be in Mazatlan and you’ll be in the snow.
Here’s the half dozen reasons we’re not following the crowd and are staying home this summer:
- It is bright until 10:00pm (if not later). Sure, other places can boast this as well, but I don’t need to go to them, if I have it right here.
- There’s a festival every single weekend. You got something to celebrate – heritage, ethnicity, music? Well, we’ve only got 12 weeks to celebrate before it snows…
- My patio gets afternoon sun. Suntan.
- My flowers only live this one time of the year. Wouldn’t it be a shame to miss the whole thing?
- Everyone else leaves. (That’s more for my husband, but I’ll take it.)
- This is the one time of year people actually volunteer to visit me. Again, wouldn’t be a shame to miss it?
(Photo ‘Summer Valley’ by D’arcy Norman on Flickr.)