This past Monday was Labor Day, marking the unsanctioned end to summer. I can't stand to use the word "unofficial" when talking about the end of our warm and relaxing season because it's a tease, but every newscaster shoves it in our faces anyway.

I never understood why people actually listen to this proclamation either, although I do see signs indicating that autumn is closer than I would like, and they are annually prevalent: 1) children return to school, 2) football season is underway, 3) the leaves are beginning to clutter the sidewalk, 4) retail shops promote their "end of summer" and "back to school" sales, plus restock the shelves with warmer clothing, 5) "summer Fridays" are replaced with normal 9-to-5 Fridays, and 6) the Mets aren't in a pennant race anymore.

Despite these clear-cut signs aiding in the illusion that summer is over, let's look at the facts. The Gregorian calendar, which has been around since 1582, states summer doesn't end until September 22, 2010 at 11:09 p.m. That gives you two more weeks. You might respond with 'but the sun sets so much earlier now.' Let me tell you something: once the summer solstice occurs, the sun starts setting earlier and earlier and, at that point, summer hasn't even begun yet.

Our meteorologists and even Capital One's thermometer on Washington Street can back up the claim that summer is still here, and fortunately, Hobokenites are paying attention. With this week's temperatures rising to the high 80s, almost 10 degrees higher than our average, people in town have embraced the time that remains before needing PSE&G to check their furnaces' pilot light. (Remember, they're supposed to charge you for this service.) The parks are still crowded with sunbathers and people having a catch; the waterfront is lined up with fishermen; sidewalk dining is still all the rage; and runners flaunt their bodies wearing the bare minimum. Lastly, those annoying "summer jams" are still being overplayed on the radio.

Hold onto what remains of summer, although according to scientists, this has been the area's hottest summer on record. If this climate change is leaning towards warmer weather, which is supposed to lead us into a calm winter, according to the Farmer's Almanac, then in the short term, until the environment conks out on us, we'll be happy people. Exposing yourself to the sun raises your levels of serotonin, which makes you happy. Live it up outdoors while you can because nobody looks forward to trudging through town, head down, shoulders shrugged to avoid the wind, needing to know what shoes their friends wear just to identify them.

Keep summer going for as long as you can. It's in your control.