But hey, this is summer, and we all really need to lighten up a little bit. There’s plenty of serious smoking to be done, for sure, but the mood needn’t be so gosh darn serious. This is the time for paperback novels, not heavy philosophy. For grilled steak, not Chateaubriand. For…oh, you get the picture.

So why then, of all the seasons, does summer seem to have the highest expectations? Since when did the pursuit of relaxation become as neurotic as the rest of our busy lives? Summers are time to escape. From backyard socials and barbecues to weekends at the beach or in the mountains, you need to notch down the neurosis and lighten up.

You’ll need some cigars along the way, of course, so what’s your simple game plan for the long, lazy days ahead? Diversity is a good game plan. First, be sure to have a good stash of reasonably-priced cigars, a variety of everyday smokes that won’t be over-qualified helping you tackle the lightest of intellectual pursuits. Next, you’ve got to have plenty of your favorites, of course. Then there are the horizon-expanding smokes - just what does an all-Costa Rican tobacco cigar taste like, anyway? Top it all off with some great treats, classic smokes to watch the tide come in, the sun go down, or to gaze at the stars. And if the conversation turns to philosophy, so be it. But there’s nothing wrong with keeping it light.

E.H., M.B.