Letâs face it â summer has the best sounds of all the seasons. While some are super obvious seasonal fixtures, other sounds resonate on a more personal level. Maybe you will agree.
Crickets/cicadas/whatever theyâre actually called
If you could sell sounds like candle scents, I think the sounds of summer insects could be appropriately labeled âchildhood.â Hearing the insectsâ symphony is a total throwback to simpler days.
The hum of the air conditioner
Iâll be honest, Iâm not a fan of the AC because Iâm too cold most of the time. But there is something about the background hum of an air conditioning unit that provides instant comfort. This sound is only outranked by the sound of a box fan.
The sounds of neighbors through an open window
I have a neighbor who probably spends 8-10 hours per day gardening. Ninety percent of the time, she is playing a mix CD on her boom box. This CD contains a combination of Andrea Bocceli hits, ABBA songs, and Christian hymns. Iâm being completely honest when I say I love hearing this orchestra of tunes and gardening tools.
Summer storms
Unless they cancel your baseball or pool plans, storms are basically unbeatable in the summer soundtrack department. Best paired with a library book and cozy sweatshirt.
Carnival rides
Where I grew up, my town hosted a summer carnival and food festival for one week every summer. I lived close enough to be able to hear the mechanics of the roller coasters and the screams of people riding the tilt-a-whirl. It was the perfect set of sounds that allowed me to feel included in the fun from the comfort of my own home.
The way the wind rushes through car windows on the road
Whether youâre on an old back road or flying down the expressway, the wind rustling through car windows is decidedly summery. Again, only outpaced by the sound of the wind while you ride a bike or rollerblade.
Outdoor cafes
Even if youâre not at the cafĂ© or dining outside, itâs always energizing to walk past a restaurant and hear people enjoying their time on the cafĂ© patio. People have the most fascinating conversations, and sometimes theyâre even more fascinating out of context as you walk by, enjoying the summer night.
Kids
Whether theyâre playing tag, bouncing a basketball, or screaming with their friends (why did we all shout at the top of our lungs back then?), itâs officially summer (and youâre a kid again, too) when you hear the kids outside.
Flip-flops on the pavement, peopleâs keys jingling from their pockets, backyard gates opening and closing, the click-clack of dogsâ nails against the sidewalk, neighbors calling to each other across the street, sprinklers rotating,
…and all of the other sounds you arenât outside long enough to hear in the winter months.