If you ask a few strangers about the most memorable picnic they’ve ever been on, chances are that they’ll share stories of a great idea gone awry. It is deeply embedded in human nature to focus on the negative. Having something go wrong incites the same part of your memory that holds grudges and spawns bitterness. What does all that have to do with planning a picnic? In order for your picnic to be memorable, it needs to be imperfect in some way. Don’t worry about planning something specific to go wrong. A picnic that goes off perfectly is still a very nice thing. Are you ready to spend some quality time with your partner in a unique location enjoying food and drink along with the company of somebody you like? A picnic is one of the best ways to make that happen. For ease of use, I’ll refer to your partner as “she”. Picnic time!

Know Your Picnic-Partner: Unless you are certain that your partner is a terribly good sport with a lot of patience who will eat anything, you need to do some research before your picnic. Find out the answers to as many of the following questions as you can:

1. Does she enjoy being outdoors? All is not lost if she hates plants and fresh air. An enclosed observation deck of a skyscraper is a neat spot for a quick picnic.
2. Does she hate particular foods? You should know better than to grill steak on the beach for your vegan love interest. Know better.
3. Is there a particular place she enjoys? If you know of a place she associates with relaxation, that’d be a good spot for a picnic.
4. Is there a time of day she likes best? If she’s a morning person, and especially if you’re not, she’ll adore you for planning an early morning breakfast picnic.
5. Does she enjoy a particular sort of weather? This ties into the first question. If she loves storms, check the weather and plan for a soggy outing. Sunshine is easiest to plan around.

Once you have your answers, you’ll be in a good position to take the next step in the planning process:

Choose a Location: The simplest way to pick out a location for a picnic is to focus on the areas in your community that are either in very beautiful areas or offer interesting scenery. Do you live near mountains? Perhaps you’re within driving distance of a lake, a river, or the ocean? If you live in an extremely populated area, check out any nearby parks. It never hurt to ask a friend with a nice balcony if you could borrow the space for an hour or two. The trick is to pick a spot where you’d like to have your picnic and choose an alternate location. That way, if your beach picnic is getting rained out and your lady doesn’t like rainy walks on the beach, you’ll have a place to go all picked out!

Pick Your Props: Now that you’ve picked your location, what will you need for “props”? Do you want to go all out with a table and chairs set up on a mountaintop or would you prefer to go simple with an old quilt spread on the grass? How are you going to pack your picnic: Cooler, picnic basket, paper bag? If you are a silly person like me, you might want to include an actual prop. I once purchased two ten-gallon hats to wear during a picnic. Passers-by thought it was quite amusing and we had more fun because of it! A sense of adventure probably won’t be the death of you so reach out and choose things you’ll really enjoy. Will you bring music? If you have access to a portable soundsystem like an iPod docking station, you can bring your “Summer Picnic Soundtrack” playlist and get your party started.

Choose Your Food: If you know what type of food she likes, this one shouldn’t be too hard. A simple rule that will allow you to really enjoy your picnic food is to make everything finger food. Pre-cut pieces of fruit, cheese and crackers, and sliced coldcuts are all easy to eat. Foods with mayonaisse or eggs in them can spoil quickly in hot climates. To be safe, avoid them so you don’t end up visiting the hospital later in the week. If you really need to make that awesome pasta salad or cold fruit soup, go ahead. Just make sure you bring the necessary plates or bowls and plastic tableware. Bring a replacement or two in case one breaks or is dropped. The easiest way to prepare food for a picnic is to pick up some freshly-made sandwiches that are pre-wrapped in wax paper. All you need is some chips, fruit, and veggie slices to complete the spread. Please note, especially if you are going to be picnicking in the sun, make sure you bring enough fluids to drink! Alcoholic beverages do not count as hydration!

Packing List: Just a few things you should be sure to bring along on your picnic:

• A camera – Especially if your picnic goes off without a hitch, you’ll want to have photos to remember your adventure!
• Paper towels – I always forget to pack papertowels or napkins. Don’t be caught without them! If you’re going to be eating a lot of fingerfoods, wet-whipes are a good addition.
• A garbage bag – It’s good to make carry-in/carry-out a policy for all of your picnics. A plastic grocery bag should be large enough.
• A blanket – Sitting on the ground really isn’t any fun. Don’t forget the blanket!
• Sunscreen – If you’re going to be out and about on a sunny day, make sure you wear protection!
• Food – In the rush of all your planning, don’t forget the eats.
• Insect Repellent – The mosquitoes seem twice as large when you’re trying to have a conversation with somebody you really like. There are some insect repellents available now that have a really pleasant smell. Make sure you bring some along.
• First Aid Kit – You don’t need to have it at your side at all times. Just make sure you have one in your car.
• A Sense Of Adventure – This will carry you through any obstacles that you come across in planning and enjoying your picnic.

In all your preparations, remember that the main intent of a picnic is to enjoy the company of the person you are spending time with. You can forget to pack everything but our sense of adventure and you can still have an enjoyable time with your lady. Make the time to plan a picnic this summer and find out for yourself just how much fun a simple picnic can be. Good luck!