...and just like that, a week of vacation has come and gone.
It started with a family gathering - always a good opportunity to see everyone at once. My youngest cousin on my mom's side is about to start college. I'm proud of her for knowing what she loves to do and accepting a place at her dream school in New York. As my cousins prepare for another year of college, I am reminded that I finished undergrad a decade ago...when did I get so old?
The next few days gave me some much-needed time to recharge. No big plans. Only random lunches with friends, running around the lake by my parents' house (multiple times), swimming in their pool, and sleeping in the middle of the afternoon just because I can.
I made a conscious decision to avoid watching "So You Think You Can Dance", just so I wouldn't get out of sequence on Hulu. Am I pathetic or what?
Over the weekend, my family drove up to New Hampshire to do some zip-lining at Gunstock Resort. They have the longest zip line in the Continental US - very fun!
It started with a family gathering - always a good opportunity to see everyone at once. My youngest cousin on my mom's side is about to start college. I'm proud of her for knowing what she loves to do and accepting a place at her dream school in New York. As my cousins prepare for another year of college, I am reminded that I finished undergrad a decade ago...when did I get so old?
The next few days gave me some much-needed time to recharge. No big plans. Only random lunches with friends, running around the lake by my parents' house (multiple times), swimming in their pool, and sleeping in the middle of the afternoon just because I can.
I made a conscious decision to avoid watching "So You Think You Can Dance", just so I wouldn't get out of sequence on Hulu. Am I pathetic or what?
Over the weekend, my family drove up to New Hampshire to do some zip-lining at Gunstock Resort. They have the longest zip line in the Continental US - very fun!
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| Here I am, all "geared" up |
It has been a while since I visited the White Mountains outside of ski season and the views were really nice. Weather couldn't have been better (the entire week was basically perfect).
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| Views from the top of Gunstock Mountain |
Flying through the air at 50 miles per hour is actually a lot less strenuous than any of us expected. Honestly, I would recommend it to anyone - young and old. You don't have to be in good shape at all...you just have to weigh less than 260 pounds (strict limit - they even have a scale at the registration area!)
I was amazed by all the summertime activities at the resort. I could have easily spent a few more days hiking, canoeing, and mountain biking.
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| Check out these views from the zip line |
We then ventured to my brother's summer lake house to spend some time on his boat. I had never been to Lake Ossipee before but it is really a fun environment. Whenever people pass each other on a boat, they wave as if they are old friends. My brother said that waving is mandatory so his boat gets a good reputation!
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| Views from the boat |
I have to say - my brother is quite the baller. He really knows how to live the good life. Maybe someday I will exchange my suitcase for a boat of my own. Until then, I will just live vicariously through him while I continue exploring the world.
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| Living the good life at Lake Ossipee |
As the sun continued to set, I could see the campfires emitting a smokey haze across the horizon. The relaxed environment really made me feel like I was on vacation.
We went to dinner at this really great place called The Woodshed, which I would totally recommend to anyone who happens to find themselves in central New Hampshire. The atmosphere of the restaurant was so unique and very country-looking. Plus, I had bacon on 2 out of 3 items on my plate - how can that not be good??
The remainder of my break involved more relaxation, seeing friends, and generally having zero stress - except for the last few days, when I was alone in my parents' house. Maybe I have seen too many horror movies, but I was genuinely scared at night. Every noise made me nervous that someone was in the house. I even looked inside every room before I went to sleep to make sure no one was hiding anywhere! I enjoy many aspects of suburban living, but home security is definitely not one of them.
People may think I'm crazy, but I actually feel safer in my hotels than I did in this friendly neighborhood. I sometimes complain about being watched constantly by the hotel staff but at least I know they are looking out for me. After so many years of living in cities and in high-rise buildings with 24-hour security, the isolation was an unusual experience!
The past ten days have been the perfect New England vacation. I enjoyed the comforts of home, caught up with friends/family, appreciated the freedom to do whatever I wanted, and ended up feeling totally refreshed for another four months of travel.
The remainder of my break involved more relaxation, seeing friends, and generally having zero stress - except for the last few days, when I was alone in my parents' house. Maybe I have seen too many horror movies, but I was genuinely scared at night. Every noise made me nervous that someone was in the house. I even looked inside every room before I went to sleep to make sure no one was hiding anywhere! I enjoy many aspects of suburban living, but home security is definitely not one of them.
People may think I'm crazy, but I actually feel safer in my hotels than I did in this friendly neighborhood. I sometimes complain about being watched constantly by the hotel staff but at least I know they are looking out for me. After so many years of living in cities and in high-rise buildings with 24-hour security, the isolation was an unusual experience!
The past ten days have been the perfect New England vacation. I enjoyed the comforts of home, caught up with friends/family, appreciated the freedom to do whatever I wanted, and ended up feeling totally refreshed for another four months of travel.
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