Deserving

It's really hard for me to justify doing extravagant things for myself. I don't indulge in clothes and shoes. My home is modest and probably under-improved based on how long I've been in it. I don't treat myself to facials, mani/pedis, or hair coloring. Harleigh and I stopped going on vacations when she entered private school.

I don't spill all this to make a pity party for myself. Quite the contrary. As I've said before, I'm probably one of the most content people you've ever come across. But this year, I was tempted with living large. Going out on a limb.

I've been with my job for 15 years as of last December. After 10 years we get our three weeks paid vacation and a two-week sabbatical. I scheduled those two weeks at the time when we brought Gideon home. Not a relaxing two weeks by any means. A house full of puppy ain't no vacation. After those two weeks, I came back to work feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

At 51-years-old and with a three-week sabbatical for the taking, this time, I promised myself, would be different. I plan on taking off the first week, time at home to nest and pack. Then Gideon and I are heading to the beach for 15 days of reading, shelling, crafting, taking photos, walking, swimming and blogging to my heart's content. I've booked this dreamy beach house in Florida called Captain's Cottage. Private pool. The view kisses the ocean. Secluded beach (all  homes, no hotels) reached by a wooden walkway leading right out my back door. I get light-headed thinking about all that time to look at the sea, pad around barefoot in a rustic beach house pretending its mine, sit on the deck at night with a glass of wine and listen to the waves with Gideon at my feet. W-o-r-t-h-e-v-e-r-y-p-e-n-n-y.  I can't even imagine how much fun Giddy is going to have — his first visit to the ocean!

Here is where Dawn E. Girl will spend her sabbatical, the biggest decision on any given day being "beach or pool?"