I need your help.

Well, at least some suggestions.

For most of my adult life, summer vacation relaxation has been a breeze (no wind even required, though it91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s sometimes a bonus).

Mostly, it involved sports, travel, a vehicle and a body of water to float atop or splash about in.

As recovery continues from some intrusive surgery, the options have been reduced.

Year-round, I91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ve been able to unload my stress and relax in a few ways.

First, is driving. Especially on a sunny day. (Car) tarps off, 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™80s hair band tunes playing, all stress evaporating.

Instantly feel like a kid again, until I step out of the car and my body gives me a harsh dose of creaky reality.

But for now, I can91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™t drive too far. Maybe two Guns N91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ Roses tunes, a Skid Row throwback and a Metallica banger before I have to take a break.

Interrupts the flow of relaxation.

And yes, relaxation is still possible if the rotation includes Dexy91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s Midnight Runners or Cutting Crew.

But, aside from short snippets, that91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s out for a while.

Second was sports. Not watching, but participating.

At this point, most lower-half stretching is verboten. Mini golf or Chexx bubble hockey is about all that91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s left. It91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ll do in a pinch, I guess.

Sadly, my number one, guaranteed to relieve every remote scintilla of stress, never fails method is also out.

Each summer, I sit in the (above ground) pool on a large floatie, baking in the sun, surrounding trees swaying slowly in the breeze while listening to said old tunes at near full volume with the Airpods and reading (that91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s right, actually reading) a book.

In the old days, the smell of freshly mown grass in the springtime meant ball season was approaching.

Now, it means I91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™m ever-closer to the four- or five-day sweet spot on the calendar where I could just shut everything out, float, roast and read.

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One year, I91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ll get some video footage, because it91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s always an adventure. Especially when there91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s no one around to hand me my phone and my book.

All greased up with sunscreen, I do a little jump from the ladder to the floatie (picture a giant floating easy chair). Inevitably, I slide right off and/or flip the entire thing several times, soaking myself and leaving a film of sunscreen in the pool.

Having overestimated my own balancing skills and dunking a couple of books, I now leave the phone and book in plastic bags on the pool ladder.

The phone went in once but (and this was the fasted I91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ve ever moved in my life), my rapier-like reflexes allowed me to grab it before it hit the pool bottom and I threw it out onto the grass.

Was out of the pool faster than an enhanced Ben Johnson and had the thing in a bowl of rice in no time. It still worked for years after that.

Once I finally settle safely on to the floatie, I grab the book and phone, get the tunes cranked, start reading and slip into bliss.

I91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™m there right now in my mind but it91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s not the same.

This year, I can91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™t get wet, so the pool is out.

I don91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™t enjoy listening to music nearly as much without the car or the pool, so that91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s out.

So is reading without the noted accoutrements, since without them I get screentime withdrawals.

So91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¦ what do I do?

With my endless downtime the last year or so, I91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ve watched so many Love Boat reruns on YouTube I91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™m pretty much Captain Stubing.

I need something else to fill that relaxation vibe.

What would be terrific is your help.

What91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s your all-time go-to stress reliever? Where91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s your happy place? What activities might I try to replace my floating fortress of relaxation? What always works for you?

Send me your suggestions.

I91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ll try to work them into the framework of what I can and can91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™t do and if any are a success, I91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ll share any and all credit.

Help a fella relax.

PQB News/VI Free Daily editor Philip Wolf welcomes your questions, comments and story ideas. He can be reached at 250-905-0029 or via email at philip.wolf@blackpress.ca.