A warm breeze lifts a tendril of hair and sweeps it across my face. The sun feels hot on my skin, but it is welcome after a refreshing swim in the lake. I am sitting on the beach at Penticton, BC, overlooking beautiful Okanagan Lake. The shrill cry of a seagull reaches out to me. Dry hills cradle the water on both sides, sandy ochre with dots of green gradually fading into blue in the distance. Foot traffic along the sculpted walkway which runs the length of the beach is still scant at this time of day. It is peaceful and I feel a sense of well being. This is the life.
It is the fourth day of an end of summer mini-vacation my husband and I are taking. We live 12 hours to the north, but he was officiating at a wedding in Osoyoos, so we decided to make it into a little holiday. Now that the weekend rush of holidayers has passed, we notice a trend. Many of the folks out enjoying the day are white headed, although most do not totter by in typical 'senior' fashion. One elderly gentleman whizzes by on his roller blades while another couple walk briskly in the other direction. The only other person on the beach is a woman who has just come in from a swim, probably part of her morning ritual.
I can't help but fantasize. What would it be like to retire here? To have all day to write and just do whatever I choose each and every day?
That scenario is quite a few years away and I'm not sure if such a location will ever be part of the equation. Until then I am blessed to live in a country of such beautiful diversity where I have the freedom to express myself and share my faith. I am content with that. This really is the life.
Tracy Krauss lives and writes from Tumbler Ridge, BC. Visit her website for more. http://tracykrauss.com
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5 comments:
Tracy thank you for the lovely description of your idyllic surroundings. I like your conclusion. Yes, one's being able to enjoy nature and to change life's pace, and to engage in what are to us meaningful pursuits, all with the liberty to live out our faith, is the life. :) ~~+~~
Thanks for 'taking me there' Tracy! Lovely images. It almost does sound like a tempting place to retire one day. Just a little too far away from my grandbabies, though! I loved the images of the roller blading, swimming seniors. That will be me! :) Well maybe not the roller blading but the swimming, for sure!
Lots of 'seniors' there for sure... but like Glynis said, the grandbabies pull is string...
strong...
My parents honeymooned in Penticton in 1950 when the highway from Vancouver was just opened up. They loved it so much that Penticton became our family's favorite vacation spot. Thanks, Tracy, for your reflections.
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