Doing Nothing

The Hubby and I are participating in our annual post tax season getaway. It is a ritual we established many years ago in order to get reacquainted with each other after two long months of fleeting connection. In our regular lives, it's so easy to devolve into schedule coordination and to do lists. Although these things are necessary to some degree, it takes committed vigilance (mine) and responsive willingness (his) to keep it deep and meaningful. On this getaway we engage in what is our most beloved but infrequent pastime: Doing Absolutely Nothing. While Doing Absolutely Nothing we have to deal with occasional feelings of guilt at our indulgence. What does it say about the expectations we put on ourselves when relaxing requires justification and rationalization? We also worry that we've fallen into a rut. Timepieces around the world can be set to what we do on this weekend. We go to the exact same place, do the exact same things, in the exact same order, every time. We feel better once we conclude that it can't be a rut if we're enjoying what we're doing. Can it?

The beauty of Doing Absolutely Nothing is that we're now available to ponder and reflect on some of the things that usually escape our attention.

Like rhubarb crumble. And grilled nutella and banana sandwiches. Both are offered every morning at the ample breakfast buffet. Dessert for breakfast - how great is this?!

Breakfast!

Sourdough bread made in house. Although the "healthy eating" experts advise against eating too much bread, I cannot resist. The sourdough starter for this bread came to the hotel 6 years ago, brought by the pastry chef from another hotel in Tofino, B.C. where it was "started" 10 years before. The bread I'm slathering with house-churned butter was started 16 years ago. How cool is that?!

"Old" bread

The Hubby and I get to DISCUSS things that don't involve who has to be where, what has to happen when, and can you believe the Adolescent did WHAT?! The Hubby's discussions usually involve some sort of Manspeak related to Blue Jays baseball. To hear him go on about them you would think that the Jays are his greatest source of joy and greatest source of despair. I would roll my eyes but that would be Doing Something and that is not in the schedule.

I get to mull over why people would choose to cook when amazing food can be had already prepared, even if cost wasn't a factor. We determine that it's related to pride and recognition for our accomplishments. And it's a way to show people who you care about that, well, you care about them.

We go on a daily tramp through the woodland forest that is part of the allure of this place. When the Hubby proclaims that he has to pee only a few minutes into our walk it initiates a discussion of whether he was paying attention during the inevitable childhood lesson of Prepping To Go Out. I take in the magnificent sight of wild trillium dotting the woodland floor. We briefly consider going on a bicycle ride but quickly dismiss the idea. That, again, would be Doing Something and there is not enough time for that.

A quintessential Ontario spring flower

Soon we will return to the fast paced high demand existence that is regular life. But, in the meantime, absolutely nothing is taking up all of my time.