1. Long walks on the beach. We’ve figured out this past week by walking various stretches of beach that there is about 13 miles (one way) of walkable beach in our direct vicinity, and that except for the Alsea Bay inlet which you only would be able to maybe cross during an extremely low tide and maybe not even then, you could walk all the way from Seal Rock to Yachats. And, in the other direction, from Brian Booth State Park you could walk all the way to South Beach State Park, another six miles (one way). It’s been fun walking it all and figuring it out with our feet.

2. Another strawberry pie. Yum.

3. Spending time with family and friends. Dinner and a walk on the beach at sunset, lunch and cards, movie days.

4. My tiny family. Anywhere can be home, as long as they are with me.

5. When the worst doesn’t happen. Even though someday it will.

Bonus joy: warm clam chowder, hush puppies with crab, a long nap, permission to watch tv all day if I want, good weather for our walks, a washer and dryer, the Newport Farmer’s Market, mostly reliable wi-fi, my new car, being able to manage my anxiety, meditation, stretching, a bed that isn’t horrible, whole clove garlic bread, clif bars, remembering how to play cards and how fun it can be, not needing to check my phone all the time, relief from guilt, clean water, a warm shower.

1. Long walks on the beach and good weather, sunshine but not too hot.

2. The best pancakes I’ve ever had, which just so happen to be at Leroy’s Blue Whale in Yachats, Oregon, and what I had for breakfast this morning after walking 6.5 miles on the beach.

3. Reading and naps, how we spend our afternoons, before the second walk.

4. Spending a few days with my mom and dad, having them all to myself. It’s not such a bad thing to have people in your life who are so happy to see you, to spend time with you. Some highlights: watching movies, taking walks in the morning, having our meals together, and looking at old family pictures.

Jordan Bridge, at Pioneer Park, near my mom and dad’s house.

5. Visiting with my brother, getting to see my nieces a little.

Bonus joy: the strawberry pie Eric made, the delicious strawberries from the farmer’s market, sleeping in, a warm shower, clean laundry, grocery shopping, my favorite playlist, a glass of cold clean water, my laptop, my cellphone, the internet, texting, warm soft socks, a thin soft wool sweater I can wear every day, new neighbors that are quiet, how quiet the house gets when everyone is napping, stepping out of fear, the beans and ground turkey my dad made (talk about comfort food!), a good rental car, a husband who is happy to see me, healthy dogs, an upcoming family dinner with my BIG family, being on vacation for a whole month more, quiet mornings meditating and writing.

First thing in the morning vacation me, sitting on the floor at my mom and dad’s getting ready to meditate, (cold sore thanks to all the sun I’m getting).