unwound

so, i went to florida for eight days.

it was the first vacation i’ve had in three years (i don’t count the odd weekend in buffalo as a “vacation”), and one that arrived at the right time. i really felt like i needed to get away, to go away, to just not be here – as in, here where i live and here online – for a while.

2010 hasn’t been the best year and it’s taken its toll on me. i was pretty spent, physically and emotionally, by the time i started packing and i was really looking forward to unplugging, leaving everything behind and just escaping. i felt like i’d been suffocating myself and it was time to breathe again.

and the trip was really lovely.

i stayed at a beachside condo with my mom, who’s been renting the same unit for three weeks every spring for about seven or eight years. it’s big but basic, and was probably decorated in the late-1980s, but it’s cheap and clean and has a pool and more than serves its purpose.

i swam every day, walked on the beach and watched the sun set every night, and – despite my fears that i’d run face first into e-withdrawal – did not check email or facebook or this blog for the duration of my stay. as soon as i arrived there, i had no interest in logging on at all... so i didn’t. i was surprised at how easy it was, and how reluctant i was to get back online upon my return. (there, my fears were realized: my first full day back home was spent almost entirely on the computer, and it’s been that way since. alas.)

there were many funny moments, touching moments, beautiful moments, silly moments and moments of fantastic snacking. i’ll share some of them over the next few days.

there was also a fair bit of introspection. something about sitting on the sand and watching the setting sun lends itself really well to retreating into one’s own thoughts. i’ll probably share a little of that over the next few days, as well.

more than anything, though, those eight days were a chance for me to take a deep breath and to unwind instead of unravel. to borrow from a michigan tourism commercial that’s currently airing: being away from everything i know gave me a chance to be a little more of myself for a bit.

and that was nice.