Like past summers, I will be taking a short leave from the paper. I still look forward to summer as if I were a student, and with three children in school, in some ways I still am.

This fall will be a milestone for my family. After nine consecutive years of elementary school, I will now have two children attending middle school and one in high school. The part I can’t fathom is that for the next seven years I will have a child in high school. Perhaps this exemplifies why I so very much look forward to summer.

Therefore, before I abandon all the regimentation in my life that is guided by the school calendar, I want to share some retrospective thoughts and comments — of mine and of the readers.

I regularly receive messages from residents with similar points of view. However, more often than not, they simply share their view on my voice mail, not leaving a phone number. To the residents who take the time to read my column and share their own thoughts, I say, thank you.

Interesting, those who disagree or have a different point of view, rarely call. They are more likely to write a letter to the editor. My friends often ask why we print them. I will always remember when the first contrary letter arrived at the paper and the publisher’s dilemma. He showed it to me and asked what I thought we should do with it, and I told him we should run it.

It is OK to disagree. As long as the person disagrees strongly enough to sign their name, as I do, then it is a level playing field and I respect that. While I know that there are those who feel exchange at any level is good, my feeling is if you do not feel strongly enough about something to put your name on it, then it cannot be that compelling.

Three columns ago (titled FYI) I wrote about requirements for permitting. I received several phone calls on this matter and I feel it is important to reiterate a key point. While permits are required for almost any work that requires a new installation, these are not new permitting requirements. They are long-standing requirements of Miami-Dade County. The difference is that the Village of Pinecrest is enforcing the code.

One caller suggested that people would be less likely to maintain their homes in tiptop shape because of the added cost and effort required. This is a valid point, because not only do you have to wait for the repairman, but the process requires that the work be inspected upon completion. Therefore, you have to meet the repair person and the inspector to verify that the work was done properly.

Another caller suggested that as residents, if we are not happy we can use the democratic process to gain change. In this situation I am not sure if that will help. The reasoning for the permitting process is safety. However, it behooves everyone to mention their frustration with the "big brother is watching out for us" mentality to the mayor and the council. Perhaps other options are available that would be less costly and burdensome to the residents of Pinecrest.

Last, but not least, I would like to thank everyone who takes the time to say they enjoy my column. Writing is not something that I ever imagined I would enjoy. It has been a learning and growing process for me. I appreciate all the encouragement.

Have a safe and wonderful summer.