“Island of Peace”

Your close-by summer getaway. Article Courtesy of CDA Hand Therapy

When my patients tell me how stressed they are, I suggest they find an “island of peace.” Even if it’s only 15 minutes in a day that they set aside to enjoy. Do you have an island of peace? After all it is summer!

What ever happened to those long, lazy, “dog days” of summer? I always visualized those as days where people sat on their porches in the heat, sipping cool drinks, maybe a hound dog sleeping on the porch beside them and nothing to do. HAH! Let’s face it, winter in North Idaho is hibernation time and it lasts well into spring. We have summers of long light – short night. Like that saying “North Idaho has 4 seasons: winter, more winter, spring and road construction.”

People try to cram in every last event and activity into these short months. Family and friends visit, there are trips, yard work, and then, if it gets hot, who has the energy to move? When we were at a BBQ recently (feeling BBQ’d) someone said that men sweat, women “glisten.” I replied “You are glistening all right - and your glisten is dripping off your nose!”

My neighbor and I like to sit by the pool after a long day and cool off, decompress with conversation (or not), maybe add in some fruit and ice tea or maybe hard lemonade, glass of wine, whatever suits us. Actually our “pool” is a baby pool with our Adirondack chairs pulled up to it under her maple tree. From there we can observe the neighborhood in relative obscurity. It’s like having your own personal and secret window to the world.

It started because she thought her lab might like to play in a little water. Labs like water - right? Well her lab loves to slurp a few gulps and then joyfully slobber on my arm (oh well it acts as a natural bug repellant). He plays with the sprinkler or chases the water from the hose, but is he going to get in the pool? No way! His other favorite game is to steal our sandals - a great chew toy.

I have always thought outdoor pools in North Idaho were a waste of time and money. The season is too short or too cold, it’s a lot of work to keep the pine needles, animals and people out of the pool and we have great lakes close by. In addition to being cheap, our little poolside spot is convenient. You don’t have to pack up the car, drive, find a place to park, jockey for a place on the beach, get sand in everything, or have the joy of exposing yourself in a swimsuit. It’s just a little corner of heaven, a poolside chat with good company. What more could you ask?

Whether it is a long or fancy vacation, a “stay-cation” at home or a little hideaway . . . relax, review the day, complain, inspire . . . whatever you desire. Find your little “island of peace” and enjoy a great, if short, summer.

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