What to Love About Summertime in Seattle...The Countdown

6. Utility payments do not increase for the cost of running air conditioning--we don't have it or need it.

5. At the Woodland Park Zoo, the animals don't hide in caves or shadows to get away from the sun, so there's a good chance they'll be active, trying to keep their body temperatures up. The penguins and polar bears are especially happy.

4. The show always goes on. Take, for example, Doug's company barbecue and family fun day. It was held on July 20th this year, and we didn't let the pouring rain hold us back from anything. We added a couple extra layers of clothing, went to the park, and jumped on inflatables, joined in an egg toss, and ate our summery bbq chicken and potato salad under soggy, dripping tarps. Good times!

3. There's no need to buy a season pass to the local pool or water park (the nearest one of those is about an hour away, anyhow). This year we've spent a grand total of $7.50 for our family to enjoy a cool-off in the pool. And cool is the key word, there.

2. When the sun comes out and the skies are blue, and the temperatures climb towards 80, this truly is a beautiful place to be, and we display smug grins, thinking about the rest of the country dripping in sweat.

1. Best of all, living here in the summer makes us all the more excited to go to that desert we call Utah for a little vacation. Rather than dreading the 100-degree heat, we look forward to a two-week thaw, and soaking in our annual dosage of Vitamin D through those beautiful rays of hot sun!

We're on our way!!