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By: Justin P. McCarthy   |   June 2, 2022

In 2019, the United Kingdom was part of the EU, a gallon of gas cost $2.60 and The Crier was still printed–on actual paper!–and mailed to hundreds of Marin County homes (almost) every month. Masks were for Halloween and only the wonkiest of epidemiology buffs spared thoughts for social distancing. Despite scads of expert Cassandras foretelling a grim, pandemic-wracked future, we had other things to worry about, and lots of living to do, too.

So it was, right around three years ago, that your columnist found himself staring down a May calendar so characteristically over-laden with softball games and Cub Scouts meetings and school open houses and charity fundraisers and birthday parties and concerts and get-togethers with family and dear friends that the distant, dangled incentive of a less busy summer was sometimes all that motivated him to shave, put on his hard pants and shamble out to meet his manifold obligations.

It wasn’t just me. Katie and the kids–then nine, seven and four–were careening from event to event, bleary-eyed and fray-edged, too. We loved a lot of the things we were doing that May, but there were just so many of them. The five of us were eager to get through it all, nowhere near agreeing with all of these misguided people who had found so much virtue in the fifth month.

To crystalize our collective hopes for lower-pressure time and fewer inescapable obligations, when school would be out and the world would be a bit quieter and to make sure we did exactly what we wanted to do over the next few months (while leaving plenty of time for doing nothing at all), we created the Summer List.

That first Summer List was a repository of dreams and aspirations, an array of the absolute best of our intentions. It was our lodestar as we mapped out just what we wanted to do and when. Crossing something off the list meant good times had and great memories made. We promised ourselves we’d do it every May, but got a bit sidetracked in 2020 and 2021. Not this year! Last week, we had a family meeting and drafted 2022’s Summer List. Want to make one, too? It’s simple!

Here are a few pointers:

• A couple of days before your family talk, ask your stakeholders to think about what they want to do this summer. Think: favorite activities, restaurants, places, people and events.
• At the meeting, go around and write down everyone’s suggestions, no matter how big/small/out there
• To make sure you’re not forgetting or missing out on anything, check any previous lists you have, and explore sites like Ronnie’s Awesome List, Marin Mommies, Marin Parks, and Visit Marin.
• Post the list somewhere everyone can see it, and refer to it when planning your summer days
• Enjoy checking things off the list!

Here are a few highlights from our 2022 Summer List:

• Backyard campout
• Marin County Fair
• Marin Shakespeare Co.
• Marin lake hikes (Bon Tempe, Lagunitas, Phoenix, etc.)
• Swinner (“Swimming” plus “Dinner;” get it? We love a good portmanteau!) at the Tiburon Peninsula Club, “Lots of times. With friends.”
• Flower Piano at the San Francisco Botanical Garden
• The Mountain Play
• Biking farther than we’ve biked before as a family
• A day at Angel Island
• Making lots of pizzas in our Ooni
• Actually tending and harvesting our vegetable garden
• Renting a house on the beach and just sitting around for a week
• Finishing Grimm, Lost in Space, and Agents of Shield

Justin P. McCarthy lives in Tiburon with his wife, Katie, and their three children--Jack, Ali, and Claire. He’d be delighted to hear from you at jpm.smmc@gmail.com.

More from this issue:

Achieving Giftedness Read >>

Book Picks: Celebrating Fathers Read >>

Gilead House: A Place of Hope and Empowerment Read >>

Golf for Father’s Day Read >>

How to See Through the Eyes of Love — An Easy Daily Mantra Read >>

June is for Celebrations Read >>

Weekend Adventures: Marin Beaches Read >>

Milkmen: How Dads Can Support Their Breastfeeding Partners Read >>

Sit and Look Pretty Read >>

The Summer List - Pandemic Edition Read >>

Tooth Fairy-ing in Modern Times Read >>