A Little Time Away

I have nothing to complain about. I’m retired now. Robert is, too. Our time is our own. We live in a town small enough to know our neighbors and big enough to meet new people. We have friends nearby and family not too far away. We live on a quiet cul-de-sac and only a 15-minute walk to a mountainous recreational area. We live in a comfortable house. Room enough for Robert to have an office, me to have a craft studio, and a room for guests. Our yard is spacious. One side has a tool shed, apple bearing tree, and raised veggie beds. The other contains my Zen garden with an arbor, an array of succulents, a little bridge, a rock river, my Buddha statue, and teak bench. A perfect area to meditate. And the rest of our backyard offers a good place to entertain. A jacuzzi, a smoker, a pizza oven, a 25-foot bar, grill, a fireplace, green space, and wooden staircases that lead to a hillside perch. A great place to watch the sunset. Really, what more could we want?

So why was it, that we felt not just a desire, but an actual need, to get away for a few days recently? Especially knowing all it entailed? There was the time spent locating a rental house that needed to have a fenced backyard, BBQ, at least one bedroom and bathroom, parking, a short walking distance to the town, one that allowed pets, and was reasonably priced as far as summertime rentals go, on the dates we wanted. When we found a place, we had to devote an entire day to preparing for the trip. That meant getting directions, a full tank of gas, meal planning and shopping for two breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, snacks, and the packing of food, drinks, beach clothes, hiking clothes, toiletries, and backpacks for us. Once done, we had to pack for Kippers. On his list was a bed, blanket, toys, food, treats, poo bags, leashes, collars, water container, and cleaning products, just in case. After that came the task of loading everything into the car, and finally getting on the road for a trip that would take us 2 ½ hours north to Pismo Beach. Then when we arrived, we had to locate the real estate agency, pick up the keys, find the rental, park, unpack the car, and put our belongings and supplies in dog safe areas, all the while making sure Kippers couldn’t get out of the yard…something that happened on our last trip.  Believe me when I say people who do not have beagles, do not really understand the meaning of “secured fenced” yard.

Why all the fuss? Simply, we needed a change of scenery. A chance to reboot. Just a little time away.

From my journal: July 17, 2024, Pismo Beach, California

“So good to be here! Sunny, fresh breezy air…the beach is ten minutes away…Kippers loved the sand…walked up the staircase from the beach onto Wilmar Ave then along PCH…saw a sign there: ‘Welcome to Pismo Beach, a relaxed state of mind’…yes!”

Getting away can do wonders.  It is not only good for our mind, but our body and spirit, too. A simple change in location breaks up the monotony of our daily lives and puts us in touch with the unfamiliar. Mentally, this gives our brains a respite from routine patterns of thought. When interrupted, our brains can then make new neural connections which lead to increased creativity and innovative thinking.

Physically speaking, when we are away from home, we often exercise more. Whether it’s walking around town, hiking, or swimming, we are more active. This is a great boost to our endorphin levels which leads us to feel happier and healthier.

On a spiritual level, new locales often give us time to reflect. On ourselves, on our lives. When not constantly distracted by our usual surroundings, we can relax and just be. This may be my favorite part about getting away. When I have time to just sit awhile, thoughts, feelings, and ideas always arise effortlessly. It’s a balm for my soul.

Recounting our time in Pismo Beach, it seems we got in just the right amount of rest, relaxation, and activity. We walked and hiked with Kippers. Though not through nearby parks, but on sandy stretches along the Pacific with the ocean waves ebbing and flowing. Hiking not on our local trails, but along ocean view walkways and tree-lined pathways in Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. We created meals. Grilled chicken, with rice and salads. Deli meat and cheese sandwiches. Eggs, bacon, and toast. Not prepared in our kitchen or grilled in our yard, but in a beach house kitchenette and on a backyard Blackstone. We ate meals. Not in our dining room but on a plank table top and a few times outside on a patio. We slept soundly. Not in our comfy bed with the familiar sounds of our neighborhood, but in a downy soft bed with ocean breezes carrying the reverberations of a seaside community.

Was the research, planning, preparing, shopping, packing, traveling, unpacking, repacking, driving back, and unpacking again over a mere 72 hours really worth the effort? Although we did the same things while in Pismo as we do at home, the change of scenery made all the difference. It gave me a chance to reflect on my life, and renew and refresh myself. How do I know this? Because when we pulled into our driveway after our time away, the first words that came to mind were “Home Sweet Home”.