My Eternal Summer: A Summer of Possibilites

Posted on April 24, 2015 Updated on April 26, 2015

FINALLY! After more than a month, two major essays, and a script for a play, I have returned. And my God, my absence has been so long that the season has already changed – it’s already summer, my favorite season! You guys and gals know what that means! Fun? The beach? Other things I shouldn’t mention because I want to turn a new leaf? Yes, yes, and yes, just like how all summers should be. Unfortunately, most summers – like last year – do not achieve their true potential. Because of the many constraints brought about by work, lack of money, laziness, and failure to organize and plan, summer activities usually just remain in the head as summer plans and dreams instead of coming true in the real world. So, is this year’s season under the sun going to be just another one of those wasted, uneventful summers, like the many summers in the shadow of years past? Confidently and happily, it’s going to be a big NO. I got a job, therefore I have money (just enough for me to go from paycheck to paycheck just to enjoy summer); I got my Saturdays off again because grad school’s on a four-month break, therefore I have time; and I’m single, therefore I have freedom. Money, time, and freedom – everything I need this summer to travel, flirt, play video games, watch movies, hang out with friends, and drink. Sounds awesome, but also unstructured, thus the need for me to make bullet points and plan ahead. Yes, it’s so not me to consider something as anal as planning, but it’s better to go a little bit out-of-character than to achieve nothing. So, without further ado, here are the agendas for Summer 2015.

Play Video Games

I remember playing Final Fantasy XIII during the semester. I thought that I could breeze through it so that it would stop distracting me from my studies, then I got to the part where the heroes went to Gran Pulse, which is kind of like the game world’s outside world – an immense, untamed expanse that ranges from lush sceneries to arid deserts. It’s home to many fascinating beings, and it’s where ruins of an ancient and powerful civilization lie. I was so awestruck with its beauty that I had to put the controller down, quit the game, and save it for when I already have enough time, because to merely pass through such a sight to behold would be to cheat myself of the chance to immerse myself to an amazing experience. And now I do. And it’s not just going to be about Gran Pulse. I’m planning to revisit the equally beautiful and enchanting world of Eorzea really soon, and compete in DoTA 2 in the comforts of my home. And why stop there? Why not explore other virtual realms? Well, the question isn’t why or why not, but how, considering that my PC is currently riddled with viruses, which may or may not have been caused by my visit to sites that ask my age. Thankfully, it, rather she, will soon and finally be reformatted, have her video card replaced, and have her insides cleaned. Once that’s done, we can revisit ever-alluring universes and lay eyes on new ones. God, I’m so excited for our summer honeymoon.

Travel

One of the epiphanies I got when I reached Gran Pulse is that I was and still am secretly wishing to explore a beautiful world that is still completely unknown. Unfortunately, I do not move in such a realm; seems like every nook and cranny of this one has already been charted. However, even though that may be the case, I still have yet to experience those already known places myself, which is entirely different and infinitely more real than just reading about or looking at them online. So this summer, I will consider all the places I have yet to go to as uncharted. And if an interesting place would be considered as such, then I will and should explore it if an opportunity presents itself. This summer, just like many summers ago, will be mostly about beaches. After all, I do love the beach, for it’s where the sky, earth, and sea meet. I’ve already explored Munting Buhangin in Nasugbu, Batangas this summer, and I will be exploring Calatagan, which is also in Batangas, a few hours from now. A week from now I’ll be in Pangasinan, either in Dasol or in the Hundred Islands with Mother and Brother. In the second to the last week of May, if I organize it properly, I’ll be going to the beach with Fernan, Paolo, and Nico – or even with Ivan, if he has spare time away from his new girlfriend. And in June I’ll be in Coron with my family (save Father), Tita Baby, and Tita Jojie and our cousins. Four beaches in one summer – perfect. Aside from the sandy shores, I wish to reach the lofty mountain peaks. I want to know what it’s like to trek uneven terrain while I carry a considerably heavy weight on my back, to struggle in pulling my own weight as I scale a steep slope with my hands and feet, and enjoy the wide view of the world from the summit – my reward for conquering nature and my physical limits. And when I get to the top I want to chill with my friends, chat, listen to songs, have a jamming session (must be hard to bring even just a ukulele to a climb while we drink, sleep, wake up and do the mundane but necessary cleanups, and then go back to boring old civilization with unforgettable memories. But of course, there’s more to traveling aside from oceans and mountains. There’s this fiesta in Tarlac on May 8 (how), and someone’s encouraging me to come; there will be the UST Writers’ Workshop in Baguio in June; other up and coming events I have no idea of; and other places I might find out about and suddenly want to travel to. After all, the world I know firsthand is still very small, so I have to make it a little bit bigger.

Self-Improvement

The many opportunities to make many of my past summers productive were bleached away by a lack of motivation, which was hiding under the guise of leisurely fun. So for this summer, despite my crystal-clear intentions to splurge in entertainment and travel, I will earnestly do my better myself. Perhaps the most logical thing to do in order to improve myself would be to learn how to drive. Furious 7 has nothing to do with this; it’s just that I’ve always wanted to drive our family’s 2001 Honda City, and it seems like the time for that want to also become a need has already come. I want and need to learn how to get behind its wheel and know how to clean it, maintain it, fix its simple problems, and customize it so I can call it my own. Then I will take out and bring it to Race Wars. Just kidding. The next skill I want to probably pick up (but most likely won’t) would be pornophotography. I want to go beyond being able to use manual; I want to be able to take beautiful, lifelike, publishing and portfolio-quality shots. No, I don’t want to learn photography just because I want to take shots of beautiful women. Lastly and the most implausible of them all would be hitting the gym. I really, really, really, really, really, like to, but I really, really, really, really, really, lack discipline. I want to have washboard abs, a sculpted back, and bulging biceps that would make girls and gays scream indecently, but I would rather do sedentary activities like play video games, read manga and novels, and write than go through the tedious, tiresome, daunting, and painful process of getting a beach body.

Books

it might sound corny or boring, but I actually want to spend Manga: I really need to find a completed school-life/harem/romance/ecchi manga series so I can revive my idealism towards love. Novels: FINISH ELANTRIS BEFORE JANICA TAKES IT BACK! I also need to finish Catcher in the Rye. And Murakami’s got a new book out.

Drink and Party

I don’t think I should advocate partying. And drinking is an all-season activity.

Romance

Next post please. (to be continued).

For me, summer this year has begun quite late. That’s alright though, because this summer is long, exciting, and full of possibilities. And the best part? It has just begun.