Ah, the great outdoors. With sunny weather, green trees, blooming flowers, and fresh air, many have already flocked to the outdoors to spend as many hours as they can before autumn leads way to winter. Whether you prefer to spend your time hiking in the woods, tossing a ball in the back yard, gardening, or reading on the beach, it’s refreshing to get in some outside time.

If you have Social Security business to tend when you’re not tending to your lawn, that’s no reason to ditch the outdoors. You don’t have to drive to and wait in an office — you can handle much of your Social Security business from your laptop, tablet, or smartphone, wherever you may be.

Let’s say you’re enjoying a camping trip — but brought your tablet along to stay connected. Your wife mentions she hasn’t gotten her Social Security Statement this year, and you remind her that she can get it online after creating a my Social Security account available at www. socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. In a few moments, you both are reviewing your statements together and dreaming about your future retirement years — with precision — as you gaze at the stars.

Perhaps you’re at a baseball game with your uncle. Your team hits a home run, and after the cheering subsides he reminds you you were supposed to look into a Social Security question for him. Simply pull out your smartphone and search our frequently asked questions at www.socialsecurity.gov/faq.

Imagine yourself vacationing on the beach. Fresh from a swim, you’re sunbathing on a lounge chair with a cool lemonade, tableside. And it hits you: this is where you want to be. You have your years in, so what are you waiting for? Just exchange your beach book for your tablet and you can apply for retirement benefits from the very place you want to spend your retirement.

Whether you’re at the beach, in the park, or enjoying the wilderness, as long as you have an Internet connection, you can do business with Social Security online.

So enjoy the great outdoors, even while taking care of business with Social Security. Let us bring the office to you wherever you are.

Learn more — and do more — at www.socialsecu rity.gov.

If you have questions, our number is 1-800-772-1213. The Tyler office is at 5509 S. Donnybrook.

Leo Rossler is a Social Security district manager based in Tyler.