#RSRSeesTheUSA Day 39: Oakhurst, CA
A much-appreciated day of pausing from the sightseeing to do some business and travel prep.
Much as last night’s uncertainty about upcoming travel itinerary wasn’t stressing me out, what weighed on me was the looming list of un-responded-to emails and USA tax filing deadline and work project details.
After a late-night text exchange with Dana Allen-Greil—who reminded me that when I stayed with her (and had such a good time that we didn’t take a single selfie together) I was talking about wanting some slower pace and downtime—I had the following conversation in my head:
Me: You know, you don’t have to fit another stop in before you go to San Francisco.
Also Me: That’s true.
M: And Dana’s right, you did say you wanted to slow down your pace.
AM: I did say that, yes.
M: And you don’t want to go to a city again right now, so you also don’t have to go spend extra time in San Francisco.
AM: You have said a wise and valid thing, there.
M: Remember how you loved Yosemite, yesterday?
AM: I do remember that.
M: And remember how you felt like it was too bad you couldn’t spend longer in the fascinating “world apart” atmosphere that was in the middle of that giant National Park?
AM: Yeah, I get it. Get to the point.
M: Why don’t you just find another place to stay in the same area you’re already in?
And yep, that’s what I did this morning. So I’m still hanging around Yosemite for the next few days. And at least one of those days has snow predicted, so they might be quiet days without much outdoor adventuring.
Which sounds really good right now. Today I took Stella (my trooper of a loyal Subaru/adventure facilitator/dj/guardian/bed/carrier of me and my food and water and goods) to get a rinse and a scrub. Stella can have a little carwash, as a treat. I sat and read next to a lake. I took my computer to a nearby coffee shop for a couple hours. I checked into my new Airbnb early and caught up on SNL episodes. I’m going to bed early.
I’m listening to my body and my energy levels and resting. I’m taking to heart the affirmation I wrote for myself this week: This is your trip, no matter what you do or do not see. I’m saying “Thank you, Should-erella, for nudging me toward new experiences” [for those of you who don’t know, Should-erella is the name of my inner critic, who is never quite satisfied with what I’m doing], and I’m reminding her that a new experience is also going through the Oakhurst, California Chevron station car wash. New doesn’t have to equal big. This is your trip, no matter what you do or do not see.
Cloud of the day: this little pseudo-mirror image set of puffs that seemed to take inspiration from the manzanita tree under them
