Summertime in Atlanta. Hot, humid and sticky. If you live here or have ever been here in the summer, you know what I am talking about. Yet, all of the fun summertime activities are outside, usually spent in the company of hundreds or even thousands of other Atlantans.

Two weekends ago, I floated down the Chattahoochee River in a kayak – hot sun, brown water, and people on floats moving down the river, looking at the scenery or fishing. Last weekend, I went to Summerfest in the Virginia Highlands. Again, the same cast of characters – hot sun, brown water (beer), and scores of people moving down Virginia Avenue, looking at crafts or listening to music. Tomorrow, I am headed to Piedmont Park with thousands of other Atlantans to watch the 2012 Soapbox Race, which combine a lot of the same elements of my last few weekends, where 36 teams will race to the finish line in homemade “vehicles.”

Why do I continue to subject myself to the hot sticky weather and crowds of people? Because it is fun of course! There is something about being outside, in the community, taking advantage of the sunshine and fun times with friends and neighbors. It’s almost like everyone pretends they don’t notice their shirt sticking to their back because of sweat or the sunglass tan they are developing. It’s all good if there is something to do, something to watch, or if you are with your friends.

Of course, it is just a fact that summertime (really all year-round) in Georgia is hot. So unless you want to spend the summer inside your house, catching a cold in the AC, there is no getting around it.

Oh the things we do in the name of fun.

Maybe next weekend I’ll take in a Braves game, tailgating beforehand of course on the black top.