On Martha’s Vineyard, it’s golf today with the first lady and friends. Tomorrow, more golf. A pile of books to read. In between, the Fed chief is renominated. Then it’s back to relaxing.

It’s just your average vacation schedule — a little reading, a little tennis and golf, a little briefing from the National Security Council.

But even though he has advisors in tow at the island resort of Martha’s Vineyard this week, President Obama insists he is planning more relaxation than work. And his schedule so far suggests he is serious about holing up with his family.

On Monday, for instance, the president worked out, played tennis with the first lady and then hit the links with some friends. Today, he is golfing again, at the Minks Meadow Golf Club — after this morning taking the briefest of work breaks to announce the re-nomination of the Federal Reserve chairman.

And then there are the books which the president brought with him on Air Force One for possible reading on a hammock on the 28-acre Blue Heron Farm where he’s staying.

He has five books — including David McCullough’s “John Adams” and Tom Friedman’s “Hot, Flat and Crowded” — more than a lot of people read in a month when they aren’t also trying to redesign American healthcare.

Still, it seems like a light schedule for the president, helping to fuel excitement about the possibility of first family sightings around the island.

White House staffers came to this resort spot hoping for a light week too, but spent at least part of their time knocking down reports about all the things that Obama might do.

Golf with Tiger Woods? Tiger is “fun to play with,” says one aide, but that’s not in the works.

A big dinner with political supporters, or perhaps a society wedding? Also not in the cards.

How about a trip to visit Sen. Edward M. Kennedy at his place in nearby Hyannis Port on Cape Cod? Locals say a presidential security team was there looking things over recently.

“I think that if Secret Service agents were there,” says Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton, “they probably heard . . . they have great lobster rolls out there and they were probably just checking them out.”

Forgive local residents if they’re expecting a little more action from the Obama visit.

After all, they used to host President Clinton, who was known for popping up around town and shaking hands on his way to dinner or after an ice cream cone on Circuit Avenue. Clinton rekindled the memories by showing up for a golf outing there the other day.

Still, “most islanders want him to be able to just relax and enjoy himself,” said Elaine Allen, manager of the Laughing Bear boutique, a ladies’ dress shop in Oak Bluffs. “I think he really needs some downtime. When we take that downtime and center ourselves, we have more energy to put into our work.”

There’s no shortage of invitations for the Obamas.

Just about every other shop has a sign in the window welcoming their patronage, including Laughing Bear, displaying a suggested island wardrobe for Michelle Obama in its window. (Notes pinned to two of the outfits says, “Do not sell, save for Michelle.”)

Elsewhere, posters and T-shirts feature a special presidential seal emblazoned with “Martha’s Vineyard,” or declaring the creation of a “Summer White House” on the island.

There is also a line of T-shirts devoted to the Obamas’ Portuguese water dog, Bo — or “Bobama,” as one shirt calls him.

The White House took a pass on any kind of welcoming ceremony when the president arrived Sunday, which aides attributed to the threatening weather in the wake of Hurricane Bill. Obama may be out and about later in the week, but he’s on a “loose” vacation schedule and hasn’t planned it.

Burton made it sound like the president was planning to lie low most of the week.

“His desire in Martha’s Vineyard is to get a little break,” Burton said. “He certainly appreciates the hospitality of the folks who are here. But his desire here is to relax and spend time with the family.”

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