Leaving San Diego yesterday was not easy. It was the most beautiful day of the entire week. I wanted one more day. It was not to be. We need the extra day for traveling to the UofU on Monday where my husband has a follow-up appointment with the surgeon to check the progress on his knee since surgery.

My husband and I were not in a huge hurry to leave San Diego since our next destination was only six hours away. We awakened early, yawned and stretched, and decided to go on one last morning walk. He was ready before I was. Sitting in his wheelchair with a hoodie on and shorts, which were easier to fit over the leg brace he has had to wear since his knee surgery eight weeks ago, and his Fighting Irish lap blanket over his bare legs. He was ready to go! I hurriedly threw on my black yoga pants, layered on my gray tank top, pink stretchy tee, and black vest. I slipped my Brooks tennis shoes on, tied them, and we were ready to roll.

The morning sun had already crested. We missed the pre-dawn beauty and the feeling of anticipation waiting for the sun’s first sparkling beam to make its brilliant appearance. The full sun was visible and bright against the cloudless blue sky.

Our walk was peaceful. We talked about the possibility of buying a sailboat to habitate off the shoreline of Shelter Island. We met a woman the day before who was doing that very thing, living in one of the catamaran sailboats along the shoreline with several of her sailboat neighbors. She said that she and her husband have been living on their boat for the last eight years. She emphasized that it is a lot of work, but they have enjoyed it. She then carried her few bags of groceries through the misty rain across the sandy beach out to the dinghy that her husband had just rowed from their sailboat. He helped her in, then he rowed through the mist toward the sailboat they call home.

Maybe the sailboat life is not for us, after all.

We finished our walk along the bay, soaking in all the warmth from the sun and smells from the ocean that we could before leaving. On our way back to the hotel, we decided to walk behind the hotel along the marina. It was a cool walk in the morning shade.

I couldn’t help but wonder if it would be less work to park a sailboat in a slip at the marina and call that home. No dinghy needed!

Naaahhh. I like having a home to go to, I suppose. I guess we will take the snowy winters, sipping on hot chocolate by the fireplace after a couple hours of shoveling snow off of the driveway and sidewalks. It is hard work.

We all have to choose our hard in life. It’s all hard. Choose your hard. Then smile and make the best of it!

St George – A Favorite Stop

We stopped for the night at the Hampton in St George, Utah. The hotel and a gas station sit off the freeway a couple of miles from the border. It feels like it is in the middle of nowhere. Our view is of miles and miles of open sky. It is one of our favorite places to stay.

After settling into the room following a delicious simple meal at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant, we decided to enjoy a soak in the hot tub. It was a welcome covering from the 40-degree temperature outside. Unlike my husband, who could spend hours in the hot water, 30 minutes was long enough for me. I exited the pool to dry off and warm up by the outdoor ring of fire. Despite the chill in the air, the fire was inviting and mesmerizing.

My mind was flooded with feelings of gratitude for this trip with my husband and the many blessings in my life.

Sleep came easy.