It’s the last week of summer, and I wanted more than anything to go to the Oregon coast or Mt Hood. Something, anything to hang onto the loveliness that is summer. Alas, my kids had soccer practice Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week. And when your husband is a coach there’s no playing hooky, so leaving town was not an option. (It’s the downside of being community involved.)
So I chose the next best thing.
Staycation.
My mother owns a few guest cottages that she rents out fully furnished. They’re usually booked to the gills, but there was a short break between tenants. So I packed up a few day’s supplies and voilá, we’re on pretend vacation.
Don’t get me wrong. This is not the active explore your own city type of vacation. This is a stay up late, sleep in as long as possible style of vacation. We amble over to the bakery for pan au chocolat in the A.M.(ish), then come back for an hour or so of on-demand cable cartoons. We’re also across the street (ooh, baby!) from the library, which the boys are old enough to go to on their own.
Yesterday we walked to the park for some live kiddie Pirate rock, (Captain Bogg & Salty) then ate from the food carts that are a half block from the cottage. When the kids wanted a drink, I walked back to grab them mugs of ice-cold tap water from the house. Then, of course there was soccer practice.
Today we went to the nearby amusement park with coupons from the library and ate surprisingly good cheap enchiladas from Trader Joe’s. And, of course that dratted soccer practice.
I’ve been able to stop in at home every day to feed the cat, the fish and water plants. Because we’re staying only 15 minutes from home, there’s no stress about having left important stuff behind. (Hairbrush? I don’t need no stinkin’ hairbrush!)
My favorite part? I’m able to keep a compost container, so I can keep up with my minimal waste goals.
So if the goal of vacation is relaxation, then I’m doing a mighty fine job. I’m so relaxed, it’s like all my stress got transported out via some Star Trek thingamajiggy.
The only thing missing? A Goodwill. But I guess that’s okay, I am trying to de-clutter my house.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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That sounds delightfully relaxing! Unfortunately for me, two of my kiddos are still young enough to be sort of high maintenance(they’re 2 and 4), and so I never really reach that uber-relaxed state that you describe. Maybe when my younger ones are the ages of your kids!