Perfect Getaway

Today is the third day I’ve spent in Santa Cruz, enjoying the perfect getaway. A 3 hour drive from home brings me to a place of beauty, peace and restoration. After the last four months of increasing busyness, high stress and endless things to do, I truly needed time to relax, decompress and restore my soul.

There’s no Netflix streaming on my IPAD. No phones ringing. No household chores awaiting completion. Just quiet serenity. Silence for the most part, except for natural sounds like birds chirping, faraway laughter of someone down the street, and the slight rustle of a sea breeze.

In this tiny cottage, there isn’t much to do. There’s an old TV, but no cable. No WIFI. Just a cozy place to be.  You can cook a simple meal in the small kitchen or sit out in the courtyard and read a good book. Last night, I enjoyed a hot bubble bath in the most petite bathtub ever made. As someone an inch under 5 feet, I barely fit in this tub, yet I thoroughly relaxed into the warm lavender scented bubbles and let my mind drift away.

My favorite part of this getaway is the proximity of the ocean. The cottage I rent is only .7 miles from a lovely beach.  I can take a leisurely stroll through the most adorable neighborhood of charming houses and blooming gardens before arriving at the place that feeds my soul. Sitting on the beach, staring at the waves rolling in and out is my kind of heaven. I usually bring a book with me, but often forget to read it as I’m transfixed by the steady rhythm of the sea and the giant magnitude of the hovering sky.  It’s a form of meditation for me to sit on the sand watching the ocean. I lose track of time. My mind goes blank and peaceful. I breathe deeply.

In between my sojourns to the beach, I take luxurious mid-day naps.  I read good books.  I explore the area near-by and try out the local cafes. I smile at strangers I pass as I walk.  I marvel at the beauty of the coast. I am quiet. No talking. Pure unadulterated alone time. This brings me back to my center, recalibrates my brain and ignites my creativity.  This type of getaway is essential to the care and feeding of my soul.

Perfection.