We love summertime.

Warmer weather brings with it picnics, days at the beach and backyard barbecues.

It stays light longer, which means there are still a few hours of sunlight to enjoy after work. An evening walk on the beach or a twilight round of golf are just plain good for the soul.

But it seems that our beloved summer months—June, July and August—are becoming shorter and shorter.

School ends later and begins sooner. It's Aug. 8 today, and back-to-school campaigns are well underway.

Could it be that sometime in the not-too-distant future, summer will be replaced with a three-day weekend? With a stomp of the foot, our inner-child says, "That's not fair!" And we agree.

Don't let summer slip by.

Sure, all good things must come to an end, but let's hold on to these golden days until they have to drag us into fall and winter.

Yes, this is Southern California, and there's not much difference weather-wise between Aug. 1 and Dec. 1, but, still, December is just not summer.

So let's enjoy the summer days of August. Get outside. Enjoy a trip to the beach, kayak the Channel Islands, catch a ball game, play at the park, hike the local mountains or take a dip at one of Simi Valley's community pools.

Do it now because, before you know it, you'll be wearing a sweater, sipping champagne, singing "Auld Lang Syne" and welcoming in the New Year.

Of course, then we'll be wondering where in the world the last year went.