I have always been dismissive of people who upon returning from Hawaii wax eloquently about how different it is here. I have written off references to “island time” and the different pace of life here as a bunch of hooey. I owe an apology to everyone who has ever told me about their trip to Hawaii. I’m sorry. You were all right.
Looking out my window at the palm trees and the blue ocean, especially around sunset, it all looks completely unreal. It is almost like someone has taped a postcard to my window. It is just that perfect.
I have spent my life avoiding beaches. I love the ocean, but I burn easily and don’t have a swimsuit body. That is why I love the Oregon coast so much. All the ocean I want, but it is often cloudy and somewhat cold. But, I have spent much of this trip laying on a deck chair in the sun. Granted I am swathed in SPF 45 and have a towel covering my body and a hat on my head, but nevertheless, I am on a beach. Willingly. And enjoying myself.
This is also the first vacation in as long as I can remember that I have truly embraced my lazy side. Yes, I have also been working and blogging, but when I am off-duty, I am truly off-duty. I am not thinking about ways to solve technical issues or getting fidgety because I haven’t checked my email or feeds recently. Despite the previous 250-odd words, I really can’t adequately convey how unlike myself Hawaii has made me.
Part of me is reveling in my new-found ability to truly relax. As the days pass, I have begun to wonder more and more how I am going to make the adjustment back to real life. As per my normal pace, I am supposed to hit the ground running when we return on the 6th. At this moment, I can’t imagine going any faster than a casual stroll.
It is possible that this feeling is location-specific. Perhaps the magic bubble ends somewhere over the Pacific between Kona and Portland. It is very possibly that once we cross that invisible line, a switch is toggled and I return to my normal self. Even if that is the case, it will still be a new normal. Now that I know that this magical place exists (it’s not just Tahiti*, you know) how can I just go back to my normally stressed-out self without constantly remembering the true relaxation I have felt over the past few days?
I am hoping that I can somehow sneak some of the magic back with me. After all, I am coming home with some amazing locally grown and made tropical jams and honey. Maybe each time I eat some of what came from this indescribable island I will get just a little bit of what I had here? If that is the case, it will make for an amazing 2014.
*Gratuitous Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. reference.
**Photo by David Kominsky. Sans photoshop, I swear.