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Is it a Summer Bummer -- Or Can LoveLast Past Labor Day?by Kara CzerniakSummer is the time for romance -- the heat, the skimpyclothes, the vacations -- given these ingredients, no wonder!However, summer romance usually comes with an expirationdate, either because you met on vacation, or in some transientstate -- maybe one of you must return to school, etc.Knowing this, summer romances are usually more intense.Often, you abandon your normal inhibitions, maybe evenwhat is considered your normal “personality”, to indulge insomething that goes way faster than your usual romanticpace. The bad news is, more often than not, these quasirelationshipsusually end with one person left wanting more.Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there are plenty of marriagesthat started out as summer flings. But this is definitely theminority. For those of you who still think that summer lovecan last into the cold realities of winter, here are some tips:DO talk about expectations, from the very beginning. Ifyou are just looking for summer fun, say so NOW. Make sureyou find out if the other person is looking for this, too, or ifthey might want more. This will avoid opposite expectationsin the end, and hurt feelings.DO find out a little history, such as does the other personhave another love back home? I know plenty of people whothink, as long as it happens in another zip code, it doesn’tcount!DON’T lie about what you really want. It’s better to “scarethem off” now, rather than later, when you have feelingsinvested. Dropping hints won’t work, either. Saying you wantno strings, and then playing Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together”ROMANCEin the background of your final dinner together is themakings of a bad scene, trust me.DON’T be afraid to continue with your normal sexualmorals. If you think they won’t be around tomorrow ifyou don’t sleep with them tonight, then they weren’tworth it anyway!DO become friends first. Hot as they may be, youstand a much better chance of staying together past thesummer if you actually like each other!DO try to make plans for a casual meeting beyondsummer, say a football game or tickets to a local dinnertheater. This is often a good test run to see if the relationshipwill still work outside of the summer comfortzone. It the other person hesitates, it’s not a good sign.DON’T try to make plans for something more serious,such as your cousin’s October wedding. Stick to thecasual before you take the “wedding date” plunge!DON’T be afraid to break it off before the end of summerif you find yourself getting in too deep, and youknow the other person doesn’t mirror your feelings.Better to let go early, and still have a chance of recoveringthe rest of summer than to spend the autumn in astate of misery!Getting on the same page (and staying there) is anessential part of making your summer romance last. Beupfront, be honest, and be careful. Many of the bestmemories are made in summertime, and sometimes, thebest ones are better left there!Bark & Brew Happy HoursCanine Movie NightsCanine Coffee KlatchesBark in the Park Dog WalkDoga & other classes for you and your poochMust Love Dogs.And that’s not even all. Learn more.Call 412.847.7000The Caryl Gates GluckResource Center atAnimalFriendsOnly 10 minutes North of Downtown!562 Camp Horne RoadPittsburgh, PA 15237412.847.7000www.ThinkingOutsideTheCage.orgRadz © 2005September 2007 • 13