I am lucky enough to work at Automattic where I get three months off every five years. I wanted to take some time to recap as it was one of the best times of my life.

I went into it with some ideas, goals, and plans: I would go on One Big Trip each month (that included A Tough but Exciting Goal/Challenge) and spend the rest of the time at home, enjoying where I live, taking daily photos with my new camera, spending quality time with B, and making the most of each day. Some highlights, with links if you’d like to see pictures/read more:

• Brought my camera around with me pretty much everywhere and took photos each day.
• Relaxed in Mexico with B. Day trip to San Pancho.
• Took my 12 year old nephew to Whistler, where we spent 4 days at the bike park. My grandparents took each of us on a trip with them and I want to do the same with my sister’s kids. One at time. (There are six!)
• Visited family in CT. Quality time.
• Biked a bunch, including a Century for the first time. (100 miles in one ride)
• Walked much more than usual. I walk a fair bit usually thanks to Jojo, but I was walking upwards of 11 miles a day in the first few weeks. Wandering, taking photos, reading at coffee shops.
• Made some updates to this site and blogged a bunch. I missed it and its good to be back.
• Enjoyed everyday life. Not that I don’t usually, but every single day felt special.
• Biked 600 miles across the state of Washington. This was a massive trip and one of the harder, more awesome things I’ve done in life. It took 10 days and I got to experience and appreciate more the state I now call home.
• Watched a lot of movies. Too many to name, but we rented DVDs each week at a local video rental store. Fell in love with Ozu. And physical media in general.
• Journaled most days.
• Read Three Body Problem, Good Material, All Fours, M Train, Stoner, Demon Copperhead. Demon was favorite new book; M Train is one I’ve re-read several times.
• Ate well. Memorable meals in Mexico at Enrique Olvera’s restaurant and here in Seattle at Paju and Taneda.
• Lots of quality time with B, connecting, focusing on us, improving our relationship. More time in general to prioritize and spend time with the people in my life.
• Got Covid the last ~week of sabbatical and spent it pretty sick. A bit of a bummer to end things but such is life. Its still lingering and has made the return to week feel a bit extra challenging.

The time felt long in the best way. I remember the half way point and thinking, ‘Wow! this has been so long and I still have just as much to go!’ I loved how much I was able to do in a day. I’m trying not to lose that feeling as I get back to work. Wish me luck.