I started reading last month's issue of
Sunset Magazine, and I have to say that several different segments are resonating with me.
First, there was the "From the Editor" letter about the American tendency to set resolutions focused on self-improvement. She speculates that thinking about our lives as "another task to be executed" thwarts our attempts to find true contentment. She says, "adding on yet another layer of self-improvement isn't what will make us happy." Instead, she decides to be more present in the moment and enjoy life around her.
I am definitely guilty of living a task-oriented life. In fact, I am probably at the extreme end of the spectrum (although I have friends who are farther past me...
Maia, I'm looking at you!). And my intentions for this year are all habits that I want to execute on a daily basis in a cumulative way. Reading her letter definitely gave me pause and made me eager to read the main article that she was referring to, which focuses on the "island life" of Hawaii and what makes it the "happiest state in the country."
The article itself did not disappoint. Part of it was a week-in-the-life piece about a family that moved from San Francisco to Oahu. Honestly, their life does sound idyllic. They wake up on Sunday and ask the kids what they want to do. They decide to head to the beach (which is five minutes away). At the beach, they run into the wife's brother and sister-in-law and their three kids. The kids start surfing while the mother decides to get some exercise by walking along the beach. Her brisk walked is slowed down by coming across lots of people she knows along the way.
When she returns, she sees that her kids are still playing contentedly and her close friend has brought a cooler full of lunch and beer. They are invited to join them for an impromptu lunch.
Afterwards, they go home to put the two year-old down for a nap. In the afternoon, some friends stop by to swim in the pool and they end up staying for dinner.
Monday after school, the mother and daughter go for a hike up a stunningly beautiful mountain.
Wednesday, they're able to venture into nature after school again. That evening, friends stop by for swimming, outdoor dinner, music, and homework.
As I read through the description, I found myself yearning for that kind of life. It's a life full of beautiful nature, good friends, spontaneous community, and relaxation. Those are the things I want to cultivate in my life (without having to move to Hawaii). I'm confident that we'll be able to create something close to "island life" within our little sliver of Austin.
One of the main reasons we moved from Houston to Austin was to have more access to beautiful nature. While we don't have lush, stunning mountains and awe-inspiring beaches, we do have lakes, rivers, creeks, springs, forests, and hills within easy access. And the longer we live in Austin, the more likely we will start running into people we know when we frequent these places (it's already started happening).
And then there's the house we're building. It's exactly the kind of place where friends can "stop by to swim in the pool" (once we can afford a pool) and "end up staying for dinner." It's got an open floor plan (kitchen with big island and four stools, large dining room table that will fit 6-10 people, living room with a large sectional couch) and fluidity between the indoors and outdoors (the living room opens out onto a large deck). We've already started meeting families in the neighborhood that we would probably enjoy spending time with.
As a side note, I don't mean to overly romanticize the life we're building for ourselves. I'm honestly nervous about the crime in our neighborhood, the nearby half-way houses, and the
registered sex offender who lives across the creek ("indecency with a child" who was 8 at the time). But living in this neighborhood will allow us to be more connected to the community where I'm trying to build a school, it will minimize our commutes so we can spend more time with our family, and it will allow our children to have nearby friends from school to play with.
Reading the article helped affirm for me that we're on the right track toward building the kind of life we want for our family, and that my intention for this year--"Put down roots"--is exactly what will help us achieve that life. I really feel like our generation has the amazing opportunity to create the kind of lives we want for ourselves and our families. There are models everywhere of people who are giving up soul-sucking (yet prestigious) jobs and seeking out more meaningful work. I find such inspiration in people like
Kelly Rae or
John and Sherry or the family who moved to Oahu. We can envision the kind of lives we want for ourselves and make them happen.*
*The caveat to this statement is that I recognize how this kind of freedom is directly tied to socio-economic status (as well as other forms of privilege). It is a lot easier for someone from an upper-middle class background with a college education to take these kinds of risks. That's why I'm so passionate about quality education for all. It seems like the surest route to helping all people have more choice and options in their lives.
Photo Above: The permit from the city finally came in and construction on our house has begun! Pure craziness.
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