1. The central Oregon coast. I lived the first half of my life in Oregon, in the Willamette Valley. I spent time on the coast regularly from the time I was a baby. It is, so far, my favorite place on the planet, in particular the central part — Cape Perpetua, Yachats, Waldport, Driftwood Beach, Seal Rock, Ona Beach, Newport, Depoe Bay, and Lincoln City. When Obi, our first dog, was only 4.5 months old, Eric and I made our first trip from Colorado to Oregon to spend an extended amount of time in Waldport, and have tried to make it back every other year since then, always taking our dogs. Because of lingering COVID concerns and the fact we were just there last year, we held off on making definite plans for this summer. Yesterday we finally took a look at the rentals that were left and made a decision — for six days in early June, we’ll be staying in the same house we reserved and had to cancel in 2020. I’m so grateful we have the means, that we get to go back to somewhere we love so much, and that because it’s so close to our families, it makes visiting them that much easier. 

2. All the people who are trying to do better. And not just do better, but take time for rest and joy as well. All those big open slightly broken hearts committed to easing suffering in the world, to loving and caring for it the best they can.

3. Moving my body, resting my body. The particular balance that works to keep it happy and healthy is constantly shifting, but what a wonderful problem to have.

4. Good content. TV shows, videos, movies, music, podcasts, books. I will never get to all of it, but, again, what a wonderful problem to have.

5. My tiny family, tiny house, tiny life. Eric was on spring break this week, which might explain why I have so few pictures to share. I spent my time enjoying Eric and Ringo and totally forgot to document any of it. Not a single new picture of Ringo! I’ll include the one of him seeing the ocean for the first time — he took his first trip with us when he was six months old.

Bonus joy: sitting with Eric and Ringo in the sun in our backyard, aqua aerobics, the hydromassage chair, the sauna, small group training with Shelby, dinner with friends, making art with Calyx, texting with Mom and Chris, cooking good food, trying new recipes, gummy supplements, banana bread, a crisp gala apple, a warm shower, down and wool, making each other laugh, clean sheets, Wild Writing, seeing the first robin of spring, vaccines and masks, reading in bed while Eric and Ringo sleep.