1. The pre-game begins at 4pm.
Football season aside, summer nights in Corvallis begin as soon as Happy Hour starts. Whether you're taking classes, working, or just hanging around, you begin mentally preparing your liver for many rounds of beer pong when your alarm goes off in the morning. We Beavers love a good party and we don't feel the need for such frivolous traditions as "It's 5 o'clock somewhere."
2. Day drinking is expected.
Can you tell me what better things you have to do on a Saturday afternoon in July? Exactly, I didn't think so
3. Independence Day becomes your new favorite holiday (if it wasn't already #america)
If you thought Halloween was your favorite holiday, you haven't spent the 4th of July in Corvallis. Whether you're playing it traditional with a BBQ and fireworks or you choose to celebrate you're right to party, there is something for everyone. And if there's one thing Beavers love more than beating the Ducks, it's America.
4. Pint Night is the highlight of your week.
Western Wednesday is the Oscar's of the academic year; Pint Night is more like the Emmy's. They are both respected and dignified in their own right, but Western Wednesday is the place to see and be seen.
With the migration of students out of the town June-September, Western tends to take a back seat to the less rowdy Pint Night. No special attire is necessary and it's just as enjoyable to enjoy a pint with a friend at Clod's as it is to throw on your cowboy boots and down an AMF at Peacock.
5. You're employed, but just barely.
For those of us who have summer jobs in Corvallis, this point hits close to home. The town quiets down significantly in the summer and that drop in population has an effect on the local economy. Many businesses have shorter summer hours and tend to partake in a hiring hiatus during the summer months. This tends to cause many businesses to cut employee hours much more than during the busier school months.
So, you may only be working 10 hours a week, but it's worth it for that coveted job come September.
6. You hate class more than you usually do.
It's hard enough to get your butt to class during Spring Term, let alone the dead of July. Even if you're not suffering from a hangover, you're still trapped in a hot and sticky classroom with 20 hot and sticky students who are all probably suffering from hangovers. You make a solid attempt to pay attention and make it worth the higher tuition, but all you can think about is going home and cracking a beer and berating one of your friends at FIFA.
7. Floating is life.
We are fortunate enough to go to school in a gorgeous place, tucked elegantly between two mountain ranges and bisected by the Willamette River. And in the summer, floating the river is a weekly ritual. Houses don't have AC and the easiest way to beat the heat is a nice, relaxing float the south end of town to the north end.
Grab some friends, an inner tube, and at least two cars, and soak up the summer sun.
8. You are VIP.
Sanchos, Impulse, and Peacock are packed October through May. I mean, walk-through-the-doors-and-get-hit-in-the-face-by-a-wall-of-sticky-hot-air, packed. But in the summer, these hot spots are home to a handful of people and often, you will find you and your friends to be the night's biggest crowd. It's easier to dance, easier to navigate, and most importantly, it's easier to get to the bartender
9. You gain new perspective.
There is something about summer nights and small groups that brings people together. Spending the summer in Corvallis, you will spend a lot of time with people you would normally never meet. The pool of people is smaller to choose from and being picky has no place. You open up to new people and they open up to you. You gain new friends and new outlooks on old ideas.
