Get out!
Outside that is. Seriously, sometimes you just need to unplug from the computer and get out and about.
This weekend I took my daughter and her half sister away to my parents cabin. There’s no internet. Well, unless you consider sitting next to the phone and plugging into it and using AOL. Dial up. I bet you saw my shudder. I go up there to write usually and just relax. The lack of internet can be a big bonus.
With two kids, it wasn’t quite as relaxing or productive in the book sense, but I did find my inner child. She was in there. Hiding. Waiting to come out. I took the girls out rowing in the boat on a small lagoon. It’s full of seaweed and is icy cold (especially this time of year), but with it being the first nice days in weeks, the girls jumped right in. The shallow area of course, but still. They were frolicking and not afraid to get cold or dirty. I had the biggest urge to just jump on in with them! (Not enough clothes so I had to pass ultimately)
I’m a nature girl at heart. I really am. I enjoy getting out and about, reacquainting myself with the outdoors, but I haven’t done it enough. That’s my vow. To change all that. My next goal is to walk down to the base of Snoqualmie Falls with the kid (it’s only a mile trip round trip, but maybe not so easy with a four year old!) And if you notice, many of my books tend to have the outdoor themes in them at times–including the one I’m writing now.
So how about you? Do you get outside and bond with nature much? Or are you pretty much an indoor chickadee? Or chico. Hee hee.
April 28th, 2008 at 2:27 am
Outside is nasty. Animals poop and pee there, it’s dirty and tends to be too hot/cold. I much prefer to be inside. People comment on what a waste it is for me to live in Hawaii, since I’d be just as content sitting inside in Alaska as I would here. But, at least here I don’t have to shovel snow.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:37 am
I like nature but I’m a city boy at heart.
That’s one of the nicest things about Toronto. It’s got lovely parks which lets me get my nature fix without having to expose myself to too much of it.
April 28th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Little kids don’t realize how many miles they’re walking. We did a huge hike years ago that was - I’m not kidding - nine miles round trip. It was ridiculous. My oldest was 5 I think? He didn’t even blink.
I on the other hand felt as if something ran me over.
I like to get outside. Since I live in the country there are all kinds of places for us to explore. But at this moment it is 10 a.m. and approximately 81 degrees. Blech.
April 28th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Delia, that’s too funny! Hawaii really?! And you don’t go outside?
Karen, that IS true. Kids don’t know a mile from a block! LOL.
April 28th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Rob, that’s always nice to be able to have parks nearby, even if you’re in the heart of the city!
April 28th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
I’m kinda both. I love to be inside with a glass of wine, warm fire and a nice book. I also love to play in the great outdoors.
It’s a long trek to the bottom of the falls. Not so hard going down, but a tough trip on the way back up in places. AND… no bathroom at the bottom. Just remember that and hit the potty before you start.
Enjoy!
April 28th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
I’m an outdoor nut
I have to get outside every day or I go 
This week I took my DS on a canoe trip to a marsh off the Hudson river–it was so much fun!
This week was spring break and I took the kids to Manhattan. We ended up walking about 40 blocks and they didn’t complain at all as long as they knew their final destination was the giant Toys R Us in Times Square. With kids it’s all about motivation
Jen
April 29th, 2008 at 2:05 am
I went to San Franciso for the last couple of days and I left my computer at home.
But I did bring my iphone. Does that count?
April 29th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Lesa, I’ll have to remember that. I heard it was a steep incline!
Jen, that’s AWESOME I think you’re too cool. My kid would never walk 40 blocks. She doesn’t even like to walk 4 right now! LOL.
Feisty, good job! I couldn’t leave my puter at home. Course I don’t have an iphone
April 29th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I’m a Florida girl so I do love the outdoors, but only if it involves sand and the ocean (and hot, shirtless surfers). Hiking in the woods? Not so much
April 29th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
I am a nature girl at heart, but I haven’t been camping since I moved back to the west coast. And that was back in 2003.
What’s up with that? Clearly, I need to get my priorities in order.