When I'm not gardening, I am probably still spending some time outdoors. My job has taken me outdoors most of my life, my childhood was spent running through the woods behind our town or swimming in the lakes and streams, and my hobbies are mostly outdoor related (I even love to cook outdoors). If I can find a nice spot to take lunch outside, I do.
Milwaukee is not lacking for places to be outdoors. Situated on Lake Michigan, one of the five Great Lakes, it has wonderful panoramic views of water. Even on the days when the lake is wild with wind and rain, it is an awesome sight to see. The boats are all coming out of their docks for the winter, but you still see a few brave souls out for a day trip fishing or just taking in the last days before ice stops it all. If I can spend just 15 minutes looking out at the water, my mind and body get a recharge to get through the rest of the afternoon.
I live in a neighborhood with other people who also enjoy the outdoors. I am fortunate to live in an urban area with many parks and recreation areas. A park is right outside my kitchen window. It attracts all kinds of people that enjoy its woods and stream packed into its 13 acres as an urban oasis. There are the playground amenities which attract the younger crowd. The trails that loop through the rest of the park bring in the dog walkers and exercise seekers. I can put on a pair of cross country skis at the end of my driveway and head out on to our own trails that we break. In the warmer months we like to head down to the lake and put on in-line skates and enjoy the view.
It seemed only natural that gardening would become a big part of my life. The natural world is forever changing around us and has so much to teach us. If you lay down in the grass and just look closely at what is under your nose, you will be amazed! Life is busy happening at the lowest levels, especially if you choose a spot that has been treated with chemicals to eliminate it.
My favorite spot to be is anywhere outdoors with my family. I love to travel and camp. We have stayed in several states and met lots of different people along the way. Our favorite vacations by far are those that we have very little planned and can spend time relaxing wherever our wheels take us. It seems the simpler the surroundings, the better we connect. The week we spent without any power other than the bathroom building was certainly one of our more memorable vacations with two teenage girls and their low battery cell phones.
Get out and get some fresh air today! Spend some time away from the tube and connect with the people in your life. Make some memories for your kids to share with their kids after you're gone. Just like the gardens we leave behind, they can continue to grow over time.
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