Boyd on the lake in a rented kayak
Sitting here at the kitchen table looking out the big window
at the lake is most relaxing. ‘I’ve been at this spot since 6 a.m., off and on,
and feeling like I could be here forever and still love the peace and serenity
I feel. But this is a one week out of the year experience I have the
opportunity of indulging in laziness. I love being in the mountains among the
pine trees, off the beaten path. We are at Big Sky Montana in a time-share condominium
that my father-in-law gave to Boyd and me before he passed away
Boyd is
cooking breakfast, our friend Ken is lounging in the living room waiting to be told
it is time to eat. What an ideal life
even if it is only for a week. We have been coming here for probably 15 years
and love the time we are able to spend here.
I have
found that it takes me a few days to calm down and relax. Even then I’m up and
going early, but I don’t feel the pressure that I have at home. I will admit
that most of that is self-imposed pressure but pressure is pressure!
I can get
up early, about 6 in the morning, sit at the computer wearing my pajamas, and
put in a good couple of hours writing. I love that. Boyd and Ken have been
sleeping in so I don’t have to visit or be nice to anyone, just type away. It’s
a good time to do it.
We only eat
twice a day unless you consider the fact that there are cookies, licorice,
nuts, and chocolate on the counter to nibble at every time we walk past them.
Breakfast is usually about 10 and our evening meal around 5. A few times we go
out to eat, other times we fix something simple here at the condo.
Boyd did rent a kayak for an hour and went out on the lake just outside our condo. That is an unusual event for him as he rarely wants to get in the water like that. We have had a bald eagle come every morning and evening on a dead tree branch where we can watch it. We spend a lot of time feeding the ducks and fish in the lake from from off our deck. We haven't seen other wild animals this year, but there is always a chance we will yet.
It’s a
simple life we lead here, no irrigating, no cows bellering, no lawn to mow and
water, no garden to water and weed. There are no meetings we have to go to, no
appointments, and very few phone calls. And after a day or two we can ignore
the nagging reminders that come into our minds that we need to check to make
sure those things are taken care of.
This is a
time of renewal and rejuvenating that we look forward to each year. We take
road trips during the day, ride the chair lift up and walk around then ride
back down. We’ve found a place to buy an ice cream cones.
I don’t
think either Boyd or I could live this kind of a life for very long, but it is
relaxing and calming and we always go home feeling rested! Yes, we love doing
this one week out of the year and hope we can keep it up for a few more years.
We are building memories to sustain us when the time comes that we can no
longer do this type of thing.
