I meant to write about my vacation a couple of months ago, but since the year is winding down, I thought I’d put this up now. We all could use a dose (or a memory) of sunshine, after all, ;-)
As an adult, vacations have always been strange for me. (Every kid loves vacations!)
As a Portland freelance writer, vacations are even stranger than when I worked for someone else. I love to work … I’m one of those annoying people. It’s hard for me to switch that part of my brain. But my wife Sara and I had been due for a vacation for many years now, and so off to vacation we went, in mid-October.
My new work schedule gave me the freedom to take off as much time as I wanted, so we spent several days in Hawaii, on Oahu, in a small community called Kailua (a residential area where the over-development of Waikiki is shunned by the residents).
I have to admit that any time I thought about the vacation, I couldn’t picture myself there. That’s usually a big thing with me, being able to imagine what a place or setting will be like. After the third day of vacation, I realized why.
I noticed time slow down. I slowed down. Portland can be a fairly chilly place most of the year (not complaining, I like that about this area), but we were both struck by how warm it was in Hawaii. I tend to be warm-natured all the time, so the ambient heat was a big reason I slowed down, allowing me to appreciate my surroundings. We pretty much spent our entire day at the beach.
I don’t think I could ever move to Hawaii and work there, because I’d never get any work done!
This respite helped me when I got back, and not only because of the “enforced” rest and relaxation. I realized I couldn’t picture the place because it was so different from my usual life and expectations. If there is one aspiration I have for 2011, it is to not let an inability to imagine stop me from doing something.
Oh, and to also enjoy a week or two without work!