esrosedotblog

EMPTY NESTS

The family departed on the next leg of their journey this morning.

The house is very quiet.

Franklin is in 'deep-sleep' mode.

We had a great time and now it is over.

There is an optimum visit duration and I think the folks hit it.

They arrived Sunday afternoon and left Thursday morning: 48 hours.

We have always tried to practice the three day rule. If someone comes to visit longer than three days, they are asked to take a side trip on the 4th day (at least) to give some breathing room. It is amazing what it does to a visit. For the visitor, it provides perspective. For the visited it provides relief.

Both return with a renewed commitment to the visit itself.

Well, in this case, the middle was the end and we had a great time in the beginning.

We are having another visitor in ten days; another three day one.

It has been a busy summer. Usually we see folks when the weather up north and back east is cold. Not this year.

I am off on my own little vacation on the fourteenth of August. I am going to Shelter Island off San Diego; a marina development which was built in the 60's and still has considerable water-centric charm; bobbing boats, gulls, and pretty buildings on one side with the city of San Diego skyline, the old Naval Air Station and a huge bay with big ships sailing up and down in between.

That will be a solo venture with no plans, no computer, no schedule.

Another form of empty nest.