I know that the summer solstice isn’t for another couple of weeks, but it has felt distinctly summer-like here in the Florida panhandle for at least the past month. Sampson and I have been busy with projects, visitors, and travel, and that level of bustle shows no sign of abating anytime soon. I thought I’d check in with a little peek at what we’ve been up to lately.

Decluttering

Despite the fact that it is far too early to have any definite timeframe nailed down, we cannot deny that our next move is on the horizon. Neither can we deny that eight years of marriage and a series of military moves that happened to put us in successively larger houses have allowed the Law of Expanding Crap nearly unchecked play. Our next move is almost certainly going to be to a much smaller space, and we have a lot of stuff that does not need to make the trip with us.

Sampson and I are off to a decent start at being more mindful about what we want to keep. We have severely pruned our wardrobes, scrapped bags upon bags of papers I don’t even know why we kept in the first place, and even filled boxes with books to donate. That last one is the toughest for this bookworm, so I’m most proud of that area of reduction. (Our bookcases still look full, mind, but they are no longer overflowing.)

We still have a long way to go, but seeing such major progress nearly every weekend for the past several weeks is motivating. Our goal is that by the time we move, we will take with us only those things we truly need and appreciate. I don’t want to dig through boxes in the new place and unwrap items that make me go, “Ugh, why on earth did we bother to pack this?” I’d much rather be excited about being reunited with our household goods.

Atlanta and New Orleans

In an effort not to let ourselves stagnate, we took a couple of long weekends for short road trips. Sampson wanted to see The Mitty at Road Atlanta, so we made a trip of it. In addition to seeing (and hearing, and feeling) amazing classic race cars whip around a beautiful course, we enjoyed all kinds of great food we can’t get in Pensacola. Among the highlights was my first time trying Ethiopian food in Little Five Points.

For my birthday weekend, we headed three hours west and wound up in New Orleans. Although we rapidly discovered that we are way too old and crotchety for the nonsense on Bourbon Street, we discovered all manner of other delicious dining spots and even enjoyed a cocktail or three. We spent most of the day on my birthday exploring the National World War II Museum.

(He)brewing Up Summer Learning

I had such an incredible experience at Middlebury College’s Hebrew for Lifelong Learners program last summer that I signed up to go this summer, too. I must have made it sound like fun, because this time my mother-in-law will join me for the intensive immersion course. I can’t wait to spend three weeks with lush green mountain landscapes in my eyes and no English in my ears or on my lips.

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So, what have you been up to lately?