The 1970s Called. They Want Summer Back.

Pamela Chan, M.Ed/Editorial

In many people’s minds, the 1970s is synonymous with children playing outside and simpler times. At least that must be the motivation behind why some people write Ten Tips to Have a 1970s Style Summer lists.  I might be too young to be a Baby Boomer but I know enough about the ’70s to write my own list.

Here’s my own custom GenX 1970s Summer list.

1. Get Outside

With longer days ahead, the challenges of getting home from work and dinner won’t overshadow the desire to get outside in the evenings. Whether it’s going for a walk, riding a bike, gardening or lying on the grass, leaving tech toys behind is a must. Watching large flat screen TVs, and using tech toys, with noses on screens, is simply not going it old school.

2. Hold a Street Party

Make sure there is a healthy dose of races, food and fun. The event should look impromptu and anything but Pinterest perfect. Include a sack race, and equipment free games like British Bulldog and Red Rover that just might get a bit physical. (BTW that’s me, top left.)

3. Do a Group BBQ

This BBQ will involve at least a few houses from the same street getting together for an outdoor meal. Put a tablecloth on a table outside but hold the fancy lemonade dispenser and other Costco paraphernalia.

4. Play Music Out Loud

For that group BBQ – or as a way to offer up your DJ services at other times – set up speakers in your backyard and play loud music for the benefit of your whole neighbourhood. Maybe they’ll like your taste in music. Maybe they won’t.  If your neighbour beats you to it, do not call the police to make a noise complaint.

 

5. Go to the Lake

You might not call it “going to the cottage” (that’s Ontario speak), but if you are going camping or have a cabin somewhere, rock it like you’re in an Eaton’s commercial. (If you don’t own the gear or real estate, rent a caravan on Airbnb.)

May you encounter a few loons while you’re at it.

6. Go on a road trip.

In a 70s economy, trips farther afield to Europe, Asia or even Hawaii are prohibitively expensive. Hmnn. Kind of sounds like 2024, doesn’t it? If you’re lucky you’ll make such a trip once a decade but a grand road trip is still an option. It’s just you and the open road. If your relatives live in a different part of the province, or even in another province, you’ll be eating a lot of food while visiting family and friends.

You might even make it as far as central Canada.

Hello Niagara Falls!  This will mean a stop in Ottawa to check out the sites. Make sure you take cheesy photos with your arms in the air at every viewpoint and major tourist spot.

Do not put makeup on before taking the photo.

Do not strike a carefully practiced pose.

Just take that photo.

7. Entertain the visitors

It’s likely that friends and relatives will be visiting this summer. Because it’s the 70s and people like to get together. This means two things. You’ll greet them and see them off at the airport. Travel is a big deal and going to the airport is an event. They’ll stay at your home, sleep in a guest room, take over your room or sleep on makeshift beds. You’ll all do the grand tour of the area. In Greater Vancouver this means a picnic in Stanley Park, visiting all the key areas in the park, checking out the beach, getting your photo taken next to the Gastown steam clock and splashing in the fountains outside of Queen Elizabeth Park. It will have to be the new ones but they’re pretty swell too. Other than possibly buying an ice cream cone from an ice cream truck, you can keep your wallet tucked away.  There will be no expensive entry fees on this tour.

7. Play With Neighbourhood Kids

Or encourage your children to do so.

Set up the sprinkler or a temporary pool (if you’re lucky enough to have one) and get wet!

8. Work on a DIY With Your Neighbour

Have your neighbours join you to help lay down a concrete patio or put in a fence. There’s only enough money to buy the material.   Supply lots of beer. Then reciprocate next summer and help your neighbours to do the same in their yard.

9. Attend a Local Festival

Attend a large local festival outside that involves thousands of people and doesn’t take place in your neighbourhood. Bring a picnic blanket and cozy up with others. Leave modern conveniences such as sling over your shoulder chairs in bags and other outdoor gear purchases at Costco at home. If you must, bring a heavy, folded chair. Or just sit on the grass. If the sky opens up and it rains, you will get wet as it didn’t occur to you to check the weather report or bring umbrellas.

10. Go to a Drive In

It doesn’t matter if the movie is any good. It’s all about the experience. No you won’t be backing your car in to see the movie or bringing blow up mattresses to insert inside your SUV.  Everyone stays in their seat. For a special treat, go and buy some take-out food at the indoor concession.

11. Plan Day Trips That Involve Picnics

Always have some packed sandwiches and potato salad, plus a blanket in the car when you take off for a day trip. There will be no dining at restaurants along the way.

12. Sleep in the Basement

When it gets hot, your household relocates to the basement. Bliss!

 

12. Rock the Latest Trends

The fashion trends grow organically on the street or can be found in fashion magazines. You can knit your own tops or sew your own outfits, for unique looks, but there are also some common looks that can be purchased in a department store or one off clothing store.  There are no chains so you don’t have to worry too much about looking just like your friend. Think Annie Hall inspired fashion; silky dress shirts; boots with long skirts; Farah Fawcett flipped hair; tight Jordache jeans; tube tops; flare pants; striped shirts with cool colour combinations for kids and other vibrant patterns; velour shorts (that cover the buttocks); cut off shorts that don’t; large sunglasses and floppy hats; long hair for girls and boys; China flats and pedal pushers; shoes with high wedges; and, tied spaghetti strap and smocked sundresses.

13. Prepare to Be Bored. Entertain Yourself

If you’re a student, that is. If your parents will be working and you’ll be at home with nothing to do as you wait for the family holiday, you’ve got options. The same goes for parents after work.  Here are options either for youth or their parents to help enjoy your 70s summer.

  • Read books outside;
  • Sunbathe (OK lie in the sun with sunscreen);
  • Listen to music (on speakers);
  • Drink lots of Tang or Kool Aid;
  • Yack with your friends on the phone;
  • Try to cool down in your backyard with the sprinkler or a small wading pool;
  • Ride your bike;
  • Go to the local outdoor swimming pool;
  • Watch sitcoms in the afternoon;
  • Read comics;
  • Do handicrafts (think knitting, crochet, rug hooking, macrame or the latest craft);
  • Cruise down your local main street/high street at night:
  • Paint paint-by-numbers;
  • Wear the latest saccharine smelling perfume/scent;
  • Sew/make your own clothes;
  • Bake with friends;
  • Play street games/jump rope/ shoot marbles;
  • Trade cards;
  • Go skate boarding or roller skating;
  • Wear tube tops and soft, velour shorts;
  • Play your favourite album (the whole set of songs) over and over again;
  • Attend a concert (as many as you can afford);
  • Go to the regional national exhibition fair;
  • Play group sports outside;
  • Take part in some kind of peace march or protest (if you’re old enough);
  • Seek out the latest music from the UK;
  • Listen to (now re-runs of) Casey Kasem’s Top 40;
  • Call radio stations to request a favourite song;
  • Visit relatives you barely know;
  • Spend hours waiting to meet a British royal on a walk about because they’re popular;
  • Go to camp;
  • Do nothing at the beach or lake all day;
  • Have friends over for cocktails;
  • Have friends over for a BBQ;
  • Get invited to a house that has an above ground pool;
  • Have friends over for dinner;
  • Watch that movie that you only watch on TV once a year;
  • Have friends over for a card game, Bridge or a board game;
  • Hold a poetry/book/play reading;
  • Get people dancing at your party; and,
  • Don’t pay too much attention to news that’s happening outside of your area. It’s a 70s summer, after all, and you’re pretty clueless about the bigger picture. At least that’s the way you like to roll.Enjoy!

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