Peak Summer or Summer’s Last Hurrah? What August Means for Charlestown

This is my first full summer as a Charlestown resident, and I think I am finally starting to understand something about this town.

Summer moves fast.

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When you first move somewhere, you notice the big things. The beaches. The restaurants. The traffic. The events. The people coming into town for the weekend.

But after spending a full summer here, you start noticing the smaller things too.

The rhythm of the town.

The way the roads feel on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

The difference between a weekday and a summer weekend.

The way everyone seems to have their own favorite spot to grab food, watch the sunset or spend a few hours outside.

And now, somehow, it is already August.

The Charlestown Seafood Festival has come and gone, Ninigret Park has been buzzing with activity, and the calendar is starting to remind us that summer will not last forever.

I'm not ready for that yet.

This is my first full summer living in Charlestown, and I have been trying to make the most of it.

There is something pretty special about being able to call a place like this home during the summer.

We have the beaches, Ninigret Park, the Breachway, local farms, restaurants and plenty of opportunities to get outside.

You don't always need to have a plan.

Sometimes it is enough to take a ride around town, stop somewhere local, grab something to eat or find a place to sit and watch the sun go down.

That has probably been one of the biggest things I've noticed this summer.

You don't have to go far to have a good day.

For people who have lived here for years, I'm sure some of this is nothing new.

Of course, August also comes with the realization that summer is starting to wind down.

Labor Day is getting closer.

The days are getting shorter.

And before long, the summer crowds will begin to disappear.

I'll admit there is something appealing about that too.

As much as I have enjoyed seeing Charlestown come alive this summer, I'm curious to experience the town after the summer rush.

The quieter beaches.

The calmer roads.

The slower pace.

But I'm not ready for it just yet.

There are still plenty of summer days left.

So I'm going to enjoy them.

Maybe that's the real lesson of August.

Don't spend the whole month thinking about the end of summer.

If you're lucky enough to live somewhere people travel to enjoy, take advantage of it.

Go to the beach.

Support a local business.

Take a drive.

Grab dinner.

Watch the sunset.

Sit outside a little longer.

Make the most of an ordinary Tuesday night.

Because this is my first full summer as a Charlestown resident, and if there is one thing I have learned, it is that you don't get unlimited summer days here.

They go by quickly.

One minute you're welcoming June.

The next you're looking at August and wondering how September got so close.

So is August peak summer or summer's last hurrah?

I'm still figuring that out.

But for now, I'm going with peak summer.

There is still plenty of time left.

And I'm not ready to let it go yet.