For 3 or 4 years we went year round in my lodge, despite what the By-laws state.   When I was Master we went dark.  Everyone since has too.  You have to get that break.  Taking off July and August makes a big difference.

In 2015 I was Master, High Priest, Thrice Illustrious Master, Commander, College Governor and Most Illustrious Grand Master all at the same time.  Going dark kept my wife from killing me.

That's interesting. We are year round here unless the WM or the GM calls it dark. That is usually only done on special occasions.

We are year round as well. Only going Dark if a stated meeting falls on a Holiday.

I really couldn't see going dark for a month or longer, We are busy enough with missing meetings.

We go dark because when we are at labor, we do between  6 and 9 degrees a month. Guys need that break.

In Ohio we go dark in July and August. We'll schedule work days to spruce up the building though. Our Marshall prepares the candidate in the prep room, our stewards prepare the meal ahead of time and after the obligation they'll split and go to the kitchen. As for learning charges and lectures....I wish it were as easy as just assigning them....Our problem is we have had a lot of officers move away recently because of job obligations... Really screws up the line and pits too much work on us Past Masters.....

Here, Any brother can signup to work any part of a degree.

We do not go dark in SE Iowa but have changed the hours to let the farmers stay in the field till dark.

My interesting EA was that I am deaf in my right ear and no sense of balance on either side due to a crushed skull and multiple fractures of the base of skull.  I can not remain standing in a dark room or with vision to see horizontal and vertical lines etc. Severad nerves / no hope of any repair.  At the time the accident happened 1945 I was just 4 plus years old. No body knew much then about what a kid had to deal with losing their sense of balance.  Nor did anyone know about or understand PTSD.

Only one thing lacking a sense of balance has helped, I became a pilot at 18 and the CFI and approach control were amazed that I never blew a IFR approach, I believe those instruments.

Anyway I asked my escorts to keep a hand ready in case I became disorientated but I made it.