summer plans

[JaBlue]

Up until very recently I thought that I should get some kind of internship for a big chunk of summer. Now I realize that this is probably just a waste of my time. I'm a first-year student so no business firms have any impetus for hiring me and the other options seemed to be doing research in philosophy, physics, or math or something. Well, I can do that during school if I really want. So F working one of those jobs.

Instead here is a slew of ideas that I've come up with for how to otherwise spend my summer time (suggestions appreciated!):

-Work for a furniture maker: I always thought it would be awesome to make my own furniture. My girlfriend's uncle owns a furniture shop. He and his wife live 3 hours north of me. If they were willing to do it, I would go up and live with them (they have a guest room) for 2 weeks, help with the shop doing whatever I can, and in exchange learn to build furniture, have access to tools, etc. Also would cook for them at home. I would take no cell phone, no ipod, no computer, no nothing except some books and a bike. I would pay for the wood for my own furniture but otherwise be paid in food, lodgings, and furniture-making knowhow.

-backpacking: Some real long trip with friends something like going in a car stopping along the way at various state parks for small 2-day type trips, final destination Canadian Rockies with a long 10-dayish trip.

-mountain biking: getting really, really excited about buying a new bike and getting much better. Not sure what to buy, will demo the recommendations I get. Hopefully ride 2x/week. Will probably need to buy a car to swing this.

-road biking: same deal as mountain biking, except its much easier for me to just go on my own.

-study philosophy/theory of education: it has sorta been a dream of mine to design and run a private school and teach the right stuff in the right way. This is the first part towards that plan.

Any thoughts, suggestions, etc.?

What are you doing this summer (only answer if its different than what you do the rest of the year, duh)?