Surprisingly, I am 4 months in to my sabbatical and the end of 2011 is also near. I've been inspired by travel-blogger Chris Guillebeau of The Art of Non-Conformity and Alex and Sarah's Thanksgiving message, "The Top Eight Things We Find Ourselves Feeling Happy About," to write a review, looking back at 2011 and reflecting a bit. Besides, I like lists and this is a project involving a list.
Top 3 favorite things about my sabbatical (4 months in):
3) Reconnecting with friends and family
Living in Alaska is a lot like living on an island...a big island mind you, but isolated. It is also what makes my friends and the people in Alaska so special and close-knit. At the same time, it makes visiting friends and family in the lower-48 expensive and difficult. I've been able to spend quality time with each of my family members. I've been able to reconnect with some of my childhood friends, catch up on their lives and exchange stories about the good old days. However, I haven't seen nearly as many friends as I would like and hope to cram a few more visits in after I return from Central and South America.
2) Visiting familiar places with a new view
After college I spent some time road-tripping across the desert Southwest. I've been able to visit some of the same places that I remember from that trip, with new friends and with a different outlook. This time I wasn't as concerned about getting to a certain spot on a map. This time I really felt the sun and the dry, clean air...and had a blast running and biking with friends too!
1) Having time
For the first month after beginning my sabbatical, I slept 11 hours every night. Now I am down to a natural 7-8. It has been a real gift to be able to sleep and have the time and uncluttered mind to do so. I have had time to take sailing lessons, plan trips, read news articles and books, help my family with chores and projects, and just plain relax. Relaxing is not that easy for me, but I am learning to slow down and to be more deliberate and mindful. It really is liberating! I hope to hold on to a relaxed mind and body even after this sabbatical.
Things that have been less than great:
2) Lacking time
So, the greatest part about my sabbatical has been having time. Well, lacking time has simultaneously been one thing that has been less than great as well. It has been a little difficult to fit in all of the activities that I want to do and to see all of the people I'd like to see. Every place I have been to so far I would like to spend more time exploring! Sometimes it has been hard to meet the expectations of my friends and relatives. I feel the need to fit every item on my "bucket list" in one year, yet realize this is impossible.
1) Missing Alaska
I miss my Alaska buddies and my masters swim, BBB, and Dome track routines (well, mostly the folks I spend time doing those activities with). Because it is almost Christmas and I am sitting outside in shorts and a t-shirt, I find I also miss the snow!
I'm including some recent photos from Florida. Next up, Christmas in Fort Lauderdale and New Year's in Atlanta...
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Kelly
Christmas 2011 was my first snow-less Christmas. It was also the first Christmas Eve I've spent waiting in line at a 7-11 for a case of water! Just around the time everyone started washing dishes on Christmas Eve, the water in all of Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding areas dried up. A 42 inch main burst and apparently Fort Lauderdale doesn't have a back-up. Once the water came back on again, it wasn't potable for days. It was awesome prep for my upcoming four months in Central and South America!
