Sunrises are beautiful. Sunsets are gorgeous. Mountaintop views of eternal skies are amazing. And infinite, dark, starry heavens in the middle of the desert are absolutely mind-blowing. But my favorite way to view the sky is on my back.
Floating in the ocean, in a pool, in a hammock, on a patch of grass or sand in the early morning or late afternoon hours. I love to observe the vast, calm, blue from a reclined position.
My favorite place is pretty specific. It’s a hotel pool. I’ve spent time at a lot of hotels tagging along with a music who was always traveling, but this particular hotel is my favorite, probably because there are so many good memories attached to it.
It’s where I spent the night before I got married. Where I spent my honeymoon. Where I spent several wedding anniversaries. Where I spent many vacations with my family of four and a vacation with one extra who would eventually make us a family of five. So many happy memories.
Ironically though, the hotel itself isn’t great, the rooms are mediocre at best. Beds are just eh. Décor is pretty outdated. No fantastic amenities or fancy technology. A great location that is close to the beach, yes. But what kept pulling us back was the pool. My partner would argue the jacuzzi too, but for me it was always the pool. It just had a particular mood and ambiance that we couldn’t find anywhere else.
The pool area was enclosed with stucco walls and lush greenery. It was cozy and private. The water temperature was always a perfect, not-too-hot and not-too-cold. And, at least while we were there, there were never many other people around.
I was free to float on my back to my heart’s content underneath the palm trees and contemplate all things life, the universe and everything, completely relaxed beneath the vast blue while watching wispy white clouds slowly sauntering on their way.
That, to me, is the making of a perfect day.
What a special place. Your descriptors remind me of one of our favorite hiking trails! On paper, there are way better ones in the Boulder, CO area.. but the charm of its small parking lot making us always wonder if we'll even have the opportunity to snag a spot along the 20-minute out-of-the-way windy drive, and sentimentality of it being "our" trail will always bring us back when visiting. Thanks for sharing!
A lovely meditation on the pool and its serene and spacious associations. Thank you, Vickee. Your piece reminded me of the special place that pools and swimming have had, and still have, in my life. Hope your week is going well, Glen