June through July were INTENSE for me. Getting Priceless was a lot of intensity without a lot of partying (it was still a wonderful time, and also I need a little more play in my work:play ratio). I’ve been looking for work and contracting. And then in August, the family vacation we were meant to take for 2 weeks (a luxury provided by Reed’s family, that we’re forever grateful for) ended up seeming to turn into 10 days of caring for Reed and Locke while they had covid. That was supposed to be those 10 days followed by still 1 week of vacation, but then Reed bounced on his covid test after we landed and so I was on solo child duty, while also making sure Reed had food and care while sequestered in a hotel, while ALSO dealing with another family’s dynamics (some of whom thought it was a personal failing on our part that Reed was still sick despite 2 days of testing negative). So I was pretty crispy. Reed and I had a few explicit conversations about how to be kind to each other and be in cahoots because of how easy it would be to slip into sniping at each other. We did a good job, but we were both thoroughly exhausted. 

And so I conspired with grandma and Yolanda (Locke’s main non-family caretaker) to cover a few days of time, and booked Reed and me two nights at a nearby hot springs. It was so good. No signal, no devices (even Kindles!) allowed in the soaking areas. Just books and hot water and naps and my honey. What a way to mainline relaxation. The only sharable picture I took was of our yurt ceiling. 

There were clawfoot bathtubs that just had a constant flow of hot water running into them. There was a cute older Danish couple who seemed to be relishing getting to be naked again. There was a beautiful kitchen to make your own food in, and people came together to play music together one afternoon. Magical, A++, intend to do again.