staycation

Part of growing up, I've learned, is limited vacation time.  We've been hoarding Andrew's days off for school visits this fall and the triumphant return of his sister from her mission this winter!  (WHOOP WHOOP!) That means, we don't go anywhere.  At least, that is until we discovered Lake Lanier an hour away and the angels sang their songs of adoration and we, the vacationless, declared that summer was saved!

Okay, truth be told, we've only gone a couple of times due to crazy schedules (seriously, when did we both get this busy?!  what is up with that?!), but those few visits have been game changers.

Why?

Because there are trees.  Water.  Nature.  And baskets full of picnic lunches the likes of Yogi Bear would go nuts over.  And quiet.  Lots and lots of quiet.

The last time we went, the beach was ours for most of our visit.  A few stragglers came and went, but it was mainly ours for the enjoying.  We plopped a blanket on the sand under the trees and that was all she wrote.  We read.  We slept.  We ate...a lot.  We swam.  We sat in the lapping waves.  We might have napped.  We swam again.  And through all of it was the most blissful calm.  At the end of the day, we came home, slightly tanned, full of milkshakes, and so at peace.  We were ready to take on our heavy work schedules again with complete clarity of mind.  I call that a serious staycation win!