Today is Election Day, but I voted last Monday. Candidly, I’m tuning out. Instead, I’m tuning back into my own life. Today is supposed to be gorgeous here with highs in the mid-70s. To put it into perspective, we often have our first snow in October. So, instead of watching election returns, we are going to have our last outdoor campfire of the year. Since it’s getting dark around 6 p.m., this little family can do its campfire and still get to bed by 10 p.m. That sounds just about right.
Other than a campfire and figuring out what’s for dinner, I really don’t have any other obligations for the day. Yesterday, I did a little work and then finished my holiday decorating plan, which means I’m just about ready for the season (or more importantly, when it becomes acceptable to decorate). Today, I may get the colored lights up outside since I won’t have to wear gloves while hanging lights. That’s always a good thing. Other than that? Hmm…
What to do… what to do…
Honestly, I’ve waited so long for this sabbatical and I always figured it was going to take a little while to sink into it, meaning that most of the first month was going to be lost. Then, we were busy. I had to get our indoor lives back together, help our “middle” fur baby over the adjustment of having a new brother and we had a few events on the calendar for both October and November. Added to that, there was the fall cleanup. So, I got it. Feeling like I was truly on sabbatical was going to take a little while. But now?
Today is the first day that I truly feel sabbaticalized (and yes, that’s my own word). There is genuinely nothing pressing to do around here. The house is clean-ish and while I want to change over each of the beds to flannel sheets, I can’t do that until Thursday when it gets cold again. I have no work appointments today and honestly, the biggest thing I have on my docket is to make dinner. (Oh, and do kitty snacks… there’s a furry one staring at me right now.) Even the campfire is largely built. We only need to add paper.
So, here’s the deal: since there’s no task that needs to be completed, for once I’m going to just be. It’s beautiful here. No morning fog and instead sunshine and blue skies for days. The neatly trimmed yard out my window reminds me that the yardwork is done. The sunshine streaming through the house – thanks to our renovation post-and-beam construction – does not hit any cat hair or dust on our hardwood floors. We’re good. I’m good. Even the pets are good. It’s time to just be, even if just for a day.
And that, folks, is my agenda. I’m actually going to take a few moments and let the beautiful day set in while I give thanks for the incredible opportunity I’ve been given to have this time. I definitely plan on a walk/run in the sunshine. There’s a kitty or five that need a little one-on-one momma time. A partner who I’d love to spend a little couple time with. And lots of quiet. Lots and lots of quiet.
Life, for me, is going to slow to nearly a crawl today. And I am going to revel in every single second of it.
The Yuppie Homesteader 