Summer Essentials

We are neck deep into Summer, with super-long days and high humidity.  Two working parents require a camp-heavy summer for our boys, and a 5 o’clock pickup allows for a long evening at the pool before heading home to watch the Braves lose.

With the busy summer, I wanted to take stock of what we’ve been using to help manage the chaos.  Hopefully, this helps all the other Soldiers who are pining for the regimented school schedule to return…

From Top Left:

1. Good Sunscreen:  This goes without saying.  For as wet and nasty as our Winter and Spring were, Summer has been sunny and HOT.  We’re spending a lot of time outside and at the pool, and we are plowing through sunscreen at a serious pace.
2. Fishpond Thunderhead Roll Top Dry Bag:  I got this a few years ago at a Sierra sale, and it sat in my bag closet unused.  I pulled it out this year and use it for change(s) of clothes at the pool.  I typically pick up the boys from camp and head straight there, so this has become a GREAT way to keep the clothes separate from the rest of the stuff in the bottomless pool bag.
3. Cheap Squirt Guns:  If you have children under the age of 15, buy this bag of squirt guns.  The absolute boredom solver for ANY kid in the summer.  Let them shoot at each other.
4. Anker Powerbank:  I have one of these in my truck and one in the pool bag (with appropriate cords).  An absolute must-have for all the electronics that travel with us out and about.  Whether the pool/park/boat, we’ll never run out of charge.
5. Chacos Z/1 Sandels:  Of course I’m a Rainbow guy.  I also wear my OSBM Bit Mocs a lot.   But I’ve found myself wearing my Chacos a lot this summer.  The boys are playing flag football and soccer this Fall, and we’ll go practice up at the park in our neighborhood.  These have been clutch.  And they get a lot of fishing time as well.  Good buy.
6. Goodr (Cheap) Sunglasses:  I’ve literally lost two pairs already this year.  It’s much more palatable to lose and replace a $35 pair vs. some of the other options I have sitting in my drawer…
7. Yeti Lowlands Outdoor Blanket:  This is the best blanket on the market.  I know it’s expensive, but it is worth it.  No sand sticks to it.  Easy to clean, comfortable, and very packable.  Mrs. RCS swears by it.
8. Mosquito Repellent:  I’m happy to report that after spending $1000s on various mosquito repellent options, these are working.  I say this with the understanding that we’ll never get rid of ALL mosquitos, but we’ve seen a DRASTIC reduction since we hung these.
9. Frisbee:  Classic.  pre-Wook action for the boys.
10. Rugged Road Cooler:  I’m obsessed with these coolers.  Mrs. RCS met the team about a month ago, and these are the absolute coolers you want.  More to come on these folks.
11. Turtlebox Ranger Speaker:  If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve seen this one riding with me on the golf course quite a bit.  That’s not even half of it.  We always have one with us almost everywhere we go.  They are LOUD, and can handle quite a bit of summertime punishment.
13. Kermit Chair:  While I don’t have one of these (yet), I’m pining over it.  The older I get, the more I care about a comfortable chair…

What can’t you live without this summer?