It’s quite possibly the most exciting non-holiday on the calendar: the first day of summer. Thursday, June 21 marked the official beginning of bathing suits, flip flops, backyard barbecues, and over-hyped movies. The pace of life, even here in the Northeast, slows down a little bit. We all have different things on our to-do lists this summer. Some of us might be getting in shape, some may be taking the vacation of a lifetime, and others could be attempting to qualify for the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest at Coney Island on the 4th of July. Here are 10 other fun, simple things you might want to put on your list.

1. Learn to spit watermelon seeds. This is not a skill to be taken lightly. It’s something you’ll be showing your grandkids someday. Challenge some friends to a contest and spit away.
2. Go see a movie by yourself. As usual, the summer is shaping up to be a collection of “eh, that was okay” movies, but who knows? Pick one out, find a date on your calendar, and treat yourself to a flick. (Bring along an extra $40 in case you want a small soda and some Goobers).
3. Swim in the ocean. To many, this could be second nature. To some (mainly those in middle America), this is a memorable experience. Either way, there’s nothing quite like that feeling when the water is so cold, it hurts. Good times.
4. Watch a professional baseball game in person. Whether you are a fan or not, catching a ballgame with a hot dog in one hand and a beverage in the other is an experience not to be missed. The sun, the bleacher bums, the wave, and a pennant race combine to make a recipe for a glorious Saturday afternoon.
5. Eat corn on the cob. Just do it. Put some butter and salt on it and just go to town. Don’t worry about the 20 minutes you’ll spend flossing after it’s all over. It’s worth it.
6. Walk around a big city. There’s an indescribable life and vivacity to a big city in the summer. People are everywhere, steam rises from the pavement, and nothing tastes better than an ice, cold lemonade.
7. Give up TV for a week. During that hour or two you usually throw on the tube every night, do something else. Go for a walk. Read a book on your porch. Honestly, are you really going to miss “America’s Got Talent” or “The Next Best Thing”?
8. Take a day off. Completely off. Whether you work or go to school, just take a day for yourself. Get up late. Eat chocolate for breakfast. Find a quiet place, shut off your cell phone and your Blackberry, and just do nothing. You’ll thank yourself later.
9. Ride on a motorcycle. This, of course, is much easier if you have one. Maybe a friend has one. If not, make a new friend. Riding down a highway with the wind whipping through your hair on a 75-degree night, well, you’ll just have to try it.
10. Plant a tree. Just think, 100 summers from now, when someone is looking for something to do, they can just grab a book and read in the shade under your tree. So in a small way, you can make the next few months last a century.