Single in the Summer

Summer is my favorite season. There is something about summer that is different from all other seasons that makes it special -- the beach house. Perhaps it was the heat & humidity going to my head, perhaps it was all those summer romance novels I read at the beach or perhaps it was hope springing (er, summering?) eternal. As a single woman I looked forward to breaking out of my routine, leaving behind the city and heading to the shore for the weekends. Not only was it relaxing and fun to get away, let's face the real reason for getting a share in a beach house: it was an opportunity to meet new men. While NYC is a ghost town on the weekends in the summer, shares in shore houses meant expanding my social circle. You just never know who you could meet on one of your weekends, especially after downing many happy hour cocktails. The anticipation of finding a man for the summer was always exciting. Summer = hookup season and 14 weeks of partying. Plain & Simple. Start your engines! Do you feel that way about summer? I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

I used to get a beach house with a mixture of couples and singles. The one thing I never understood about summer beach houses and couples: why when a couple is dating they eagerly buy a share for the summer, enjoying all the group BBQs, happy hours, beach outings, etc. bringing shmoopiness with them wherever they go. However, the moment they say "I do" they are no longer able to particpate in a beach share. It's as if the marrieds can no longer mingle with the singles. It used to drive me crazy. Suddenly when share time rolls around, instead of this couple being all in you get the excuses. WE may go on some trips this year. WE are really busy this summer. WE will think up another lame excuse and get back to you when it sounds believable. What do they think we are going to do to them? Corrupt them with our carefree ways? And why does a piece of paper change the way a couple thinks about a beach house? Is it that they start to think that beach houses should be segregated -- stable marrieds in one house, wild singles in the other?

What do you think? Has this happened to you? Do you think that couples change once they are newly married and can no longer enjoy the summer shares unless it is with other couples? Is it like Sex & the City used to say that single women become threats to married women? What do you think causes the change? Please write in and let me know your thoughts.