It’s here. Summer. Finally. At last. The Season of No Complaints. I’ve already had 57 summers, most of which I didn’t know at the time were a gift. I’d guess at: 12 in Seattle, 5 in Ottawa, which leaves 40 in Nova Scotia. Two while living full-time in the tiny house and the past two enjoying a reprieve during the pandemic. Yeah, I am well-aware the pandemic is not over and the handbasket is travelling faster than ever so it’s time to carpe the heck out of summer. 13.5 weeks. 13 weekends. 93 days.
I didn’t publish on the solstice, as I usually do, because I was offline in the tiny house for a few days with Enid the Cat, using the tiny house as originally intended: for a meditation and writing (plus crossword puzzle and reading) retreat. Enid decided we should celebrate the first full day of summer by getting up at 5AM. I needed a nap by 9AM.
The energy to get things done that I reported on last month has not quit—it’s kept me inspired and busy, though I still have a long way to go with spring cleaning and decluttering. So what does planning for the next three months look like? Road trips and visiting with friends and family, of course. Which does require planning—because I’m working with other people’s busy schedules too. In the past month, I’ve made three trips into the Halifax area to visit friends I haven’t seen since before winter/omicron. I’ve also visited with former neighboUrs and friends during my two stays at the tiny house. And I’ve been over to the South Shore twice for beautiful bike rides along the coast.
My latest distraction is using a fun learn-a-language app. When I lived out west, I took two beginner Spanish classes and I enjoyed having the opportunity to practice every day there. I really thought I had lost 99.99% of what I’d learned but was delighted when some of it quickly came back. It kinda-sorta feels like just another online distraction but it’s a positive one. I can’t help but wonder how fluent I would be by now if I had committed to learning a language online at the beginning of the pandemic rather than consuming above the daily recommended level of bad news.
I remembered this week that exactly 10 years ago (June 22-24, 2012), I was on Mount Rainier attempting to summit* as part of a fundraiser for the WA state parks. Five years ago, I was staying in my stepmother’s cottage after driving across the country and before moving into the tiny house. Five years is a big chunk of time. I honestly can’t imagine a five-year plan at this point. 2027? Huh? That’s why I’m sticking with three months for now—packing Summer #58 with lots of social activity but allowing for IRDs, scheduling activities but being flexible with change, not downsizing my summer because of the price of gas (I have a little car), and, of course, not taking a single day of it for granted.
*We got weathered off.
References and related links:
- IRD: Introvert Recharge Day.
- summer begins (2021 – post #164)
- summer #55 (2019 – post #117)
- summer at last (2018 – post #94)
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