Life’s Simple Pleasures (or a perfect day)

To me,  it’s the simple things that can add up to a perfect day.  Don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate the not so perfect days too. Like when your car won’t start, or you think you have the flu, or your poor hubby gets stuck in a snowstorm and misses your anniversary.  But sometimes a day is so close to flawless, it needs to be acknowledged.

Let’s take last Saturday. It doesn’t hurt that the day began with clear blue skies and warm breezes (and this is February!)

It was an ideal morning for a hike.  I’m fortunate to live close to hiking trails that are just a half mile up the road. There were already a large number of cars parked there early (7:30am) and I thought the trails may have been crowded but that wasn’t the case. For the most part, I had the mountain to myself.  I was amazed at how green everything looked since we haven’t had quite the El Niño rains that were forecasted for this winter.  It was such a welcome surprise and made the morning trek all the more enjoyable.

It had been a few weeks since I last hiked (walking to and from movies during Film Festival doesn’t really count).  I knew there was a good probability that I would be sore after my hike so I headed home and straight to the hot tub.  Hot tubbing in California is big.  While I don’t partake as often as my husband does (he practically marinates in it), when I do it is a blissful experience.  I especially love that it is a redwood tub…it just feels so good!

Next to a lengthy soak in the hot tub, taking an outdoor shower is the next best thing (see showering al fresco).

One of my favorite things about living in Santa Barbara, is that even in February there are days warm enough to open up the house.  And we don’t need screens on the French doors, so you truly feel like you are outside. Bugs just don’t seem to be an issue here, although I did see a tarantula on our patio once…but that’s another story.  I delight in the ritual of throwing wide all of the doors (there are eleven…a lot for a small house).  Sometimes it is the simplest things that bring happiness.

After a late lunch on the patio, I turned on some Bossa Nova music (which always makes me feel as if I’m on a vacation in some exotic locale like St. Barths) and with a large glass of freshly brewed ice tea, headed over to one of my favorite spots.  It’s a teak chaise lounge on our patio with a little pull out tray for my books, magazines and tea. From my perch I can hear the music of Astrud Gilberto singing “The Girl from Ipanema,” and the splashing of the fountain.   I can take in the sight of hummingbirds at the feeder which hangs from the tree providing me with some dappled shade.

As the day wanes, the ice tea transitions to a glass of wine (or two) and I am incredibly grateful for another simply perfect day.