31 Comments
User's avatar
Sherry's avatar

I better get moving. Endless summer is only

13 weekends.

Charlie Finch's avatar

I’m want to know more about this live-aboard houseboat period!

Grace McClure's avatar

Ha, oh there's a lot there for sure. It was at Toronto Island Marina, and our boat was a 1969 chris craft called "Luv Tub". We did not dare rename her.

Charlie Finch's avatar

This is the last bit of Substack I'm reading as I'm on my way out for an early morning hockey game. And thank goodness for that. Sending myself out the door with an image of a 1969 boat called the Luv Tub is more than perfect.

Charlotte Stephens's avatar

I had this thought too! We need photos!

Grace McClure's avatar

I will share some!

AJ Lee's avatar

I have a tent that I’ve never used. It was an aspirational purchase 😂

Grace McClure's avatar

May we never stop being aspirational

Deborah Beach's avatar

SO SO GOOD GRACE (as always!!!) ❤️‍🔥 Here's to living day by day, enjoying right where we are, saying eff it to the summer comparison games!! "Then summer arrives, and we feel like we should be somewhere else. As though we should be using this time to become the fantasy versions of ourselves we spent our holed-up indoor months conjuring."

Grace McClure's avatar

Deborah! Thank you for the kind words. Meet you at the lake?

morgan ⋒'s avatar

No I totally get this! As someone from Minnesota who lives in South Texas I have lots of feelings about the summer. In Minnesota it felt more special because of all of the months we suffered in the cold (which you definitely understand) but I also get why summer can then feel overwhelming like you must soak up every drop. In Texas, on the other hand, summer weather is so repetitive (and the actual summer month are kind of hellish) that I’ve begun to feel less appreciation for sun + heat…hm

Grace McClure's avatar

Ah yes, you’ve seen it from both sides and how precious it becomes with four season places. Texas summer could be more winter-like where you have to hide inside?

morgan ⋒'s avatar

exactly!!! that’s what my mom always says haha

Tyrel Rose's avatar

I have to admit, I read the title "Summer AS an Attention-Grabby Bitch" and thought, well this will be an interesting take... Turned out to be interesting in an entirely different way!

Grace McClure's avatar

Thank you, great title alternative!

Charlotte Stephens's avatar

I don't like summer. I am a pale, pale woman with pale, pale children and the constant suncream and "put your hat back on" dance is exhausting to me. I like Spring, though. Spring is less showy than Summer, Spring knows it's cool and doesn't have to bang on about it all the time. Yay Spring! (Currently in a horrible muggy weather period in England, it's not even that hot but the heat we do have is oppressive and everyone is really sweaty. GRIM.)

Grace McClure's avatar

Totally get the sunscreen annoyance, and it is in fact A BIT MUCH. But this is part of her tiring charm.

Edyepat Best's avatar

Summer is a prison of discomfort and heat, and I live in Newfoundland!!I perished up-along for 59 years 🤬

Grace McClure's avatar

Love 'a prison of discomfort'—great line!

Steena Hernandez's avatar

I love this. 💛 There can be so much pressure around summer. I love this reminder to let it in slowly and enjoy the ordinary moments too. ☀️

Grace McClure's avatar

Thank you! Glad you were able to feel this.

Allison Webb's avatar

Summer is glorious but also…the pressure! Did you eat popsicles? Did you swim??? Did you maximize every single day?!?

Grace McClure's avatar

Right? There is pressure, and it can take us out of the moment. This summer, aiming for less expectation, more slow enjoyment

Allison Webb's avatar

Same! I’m looking forward to some lazy, sunny days

Mahmoud Owies's avatar

Maybe I don't hate summer.

Maybe I'm just running from it.

Waiting for something to happen to wake me up.

Grace McClure's avatar

Waiting for something to happen is one side of the coin, but then there's the not being in the moment when it is

Timothy Brice's avatar

As a chef who spent the last six years as a private chef for hire (having cooked over 200 bachelorette parties in that time), I have to say I’ve never felt more seen than by the 'making a soup' vs. 'pressure to be a celebutant' contrast. I'm also still recovering from the 'gizzy-bits' line. Nicely done.

Timothy Miller's avatar

I live in the south. Summer is three months of getting through without murdering anyone.

Joel Cohen's avatar

I love this take on Summer! I often think about how different and timeless Summer was as a kid (no homework! Fireflies! Cookouts!) compared to being an adult (work every day...). I try to bring a little bit of that childhood Summer into my adult life (visiting my garden in the mornings to check on the tomatoes seems to be working). I hope you enjoy your Summer!

I Am Enuf's avatar

Have you been checked out to wear that hat? You would likely need to pass the Canadian citizenship exam and maybe even apply for citizenship, before presuming to wear that hat. And it's absolutely no excuse that your relatives told you that you could.

Danielle Marr's avatar

"A change of pace is often welcomed, but it’s just that I like who I’m becoming. And it all feels so precarious.

If winter is where we work, summer is where we accidentally live."

Loveeee this Grace 🥹