When have you felt the most relaxed in the past few months?

@TheHorse (218940)

Walnut Creek, California

August 3, 2016 6:25pm CST

As some of you know, I recently got back from a five day trip to New York to visit my Auntie, who is 93. I'm something of a workaholic here in California, and I made a vow NOT to do anything productive while I was there. I brought one book, my Gibson mandolin, and spent most of my day hours sitting by the pool with my Auntie, discussing family and the DNC, reading/playing, and finally jumping in. I'll attach a picture of her trees from the far end of the pool. She lives in a lovely ranch style house on two acres on Long Island. I didn't bring my camera into the pool. I just walk to the end of the pool and leaned over to catch the view I had been seeing through chlorinated eyes for the past three days. l was as relaxed as I've been in months.

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18 responses

@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

4 Aug 16

Wow - your Auntie has two acres? That must be some place she has there, and I'm glad that you found it so relaxing.

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@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

4 Aug 16

@TheHorse I've never seen any fireflies, so look forward to your pictures.

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

@jaboUK I didn't get pictures of the fireflies, but I did get pictures of her beautiful back garden in a light misty rain.

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

It's really beautiful. I even saw fireflies at night! I'll attach some more pictures in future posts. I miss the lushness of places East of here.

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@hereandthere (45645)

• Philippines

4 Aug 16

we can all imagine ourselves relaxing, sipping a cool drink, chatting and daydreaming just looking at it. does she live alone? 2 acres sounds pretty big.

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@hereandthere (45645)

• Philippines

4 Aug 16

@TheHorse that's good. how does she keep busy?

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

@hereandthere She is an avid reader and she follows current events, like the DNC, closely. She's one bright lady, and still has all of her marbles.

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

She now lives with her son, who is a doctor. He and his wife were shipping their kids off to college, so they sold their house (nearby) and moved in with her as she got too old to live alone.

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@toniganzon (72281)

• Philippines

4 Aug 16

Oh that's so wonderful and I envy you. I think the last time I felt so relaxed was in May when we went to an island for some snorkelling and dolphin watching. it was only for two days though.

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

That sounds great! Are you still basking in the good feelings? I'm still in a good mood from my vacation.

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@toniganzon (72281)

• Philippines

4 Aug 16

@TheHorse not anymore. The moment i got back to work, I just have too many things to be done.

That's why I need another get away. Soon...

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

@toniganzon I may hit the road again next week.

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@SIMPLYD (90722)

• Philippines

4 Aug 16

Wow , 93 ! Can she still hear well ? I think , just talking and relaxing like that with her are heavenly for her , because she's now in her twilight years and just having a company will already be happiness for her . I envy you actually for being so relaxed while there .

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@SIMPLYD (90722)

• Philippines

4 Aug 16

@TheHorse Maybe you should ask her , what's her secret for hearing that age yet still mobile with good faculties .

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

She's very philosophical about being older. Her hearing is not that bad for someone of her age. She can't hear things I can hear (the band playing a few houses over), but she heard me clearly if I spoke with good enunciation.

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

@SIMPLYD Alas, Her mobility has waned considerably over the past few years. She and I used to hike all over Manhattan when she was a young bird in her mid-80s.

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crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39509)

• United States

4 Aug 16

so glad that'cha got to spend that time with her - much needed fer ya both i'm sure :) bein' outdoors, hangin' out with the critters, piddlin' 'n the garden 'n such relaxes me. oddly 'nough i've found that free-motion quiltin' 'tis quite relaxin' 's well. i hope ya take pointers from yer lil vacation 'n incorporate such 'nto yer life 't home 's well. 'tis rejuvenatin' to the soul to jest 'be'.

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crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39509)

• United States

4 Aug 16

@TheHorse :D i reckon so? i used to panic 's to how to put 'em together coz the hands'll not cooperate to hand stitch 'em. that free-motion doodlin' 'tis most rewardin' coz i can jest let my hands'n mind jest wander 'bout 'n all turns out alright, lol. enjoy yer e'enin' :D

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

@crazyhorseladycx So far so good. I'm just a wood sandin' fool. Got any new pix of your quilting?

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

Yes indeedy. I try to find some time to and for myself every day. Quilting to you could be like speaker restoration to me. That's what I'm doing right now. Just took a kid client (and two cousins) home and am spending some alone time right now.

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@paigea (36317)

• Canada

4 Aug 16

Oh my, she sure does look great! I don't know when I have relaxed.

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

Can you start tomorrow?

@paigea (36317)

• Canada

4 Aug 16

@TheHorse No, but I am going to have fun with my great nephew tomorrow. We are going to some fire truck display at the library. And riding the city train to get uptown as I don't want to drive there and park there. The not relaxing part is knowing how frustrated my husband is with me being gone when everything is ready in the garden!

@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

@paigea Are you the official farmer/harvester? Playing with kids always relaxes me.

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Belle Starr (Iz)

@BelleStarr (61102)

• United States

5 Aug 16

I like to go out in the dark and float around in our pool, it is quiet and the world seems so small compared to the stars in the sky. Very therapeutic.

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

5 Aug 16

Sounds very relaxing to me. I'd go outside at night and watch the stars and fireflies.

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@LadyDuck (471494)

• Switzerland

4 Aug 16

It's a wonderful and relaxing view. My most relaxed time in the past few months has been the last day of May, when we had lunch by the lake with one of our friends.

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@LadyDuck (471494)

• Switzerland

5 Aug 16

@TheHorse Beautiful photo, the weather is very bad today, but it should be fine during the week end, I will go for a walk on the hills.

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

5 Aug 16

@LadyDuck Sounds beautiful. Do you have a camera you can bring? I'm curious as to whether the hills there look more like the hills near Perugia or the "hills" in The Sound of Music! (smiley face)

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

That sounds really nice. I may take a hike with my friend Michael up at Inspiration Point this Saturday. That's always relaxing. That's where my favorite sunset photo came from.

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@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

5 Aug 16

that sounds amazing

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

5 Aug 16

She's an amazing woman. I'm glad we got to spend this relaxing time together.

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@DeborahDiane (40295)

• Laguna Woods, California

4 Aug 16

How wonderful of you to spend that time with your Auntie. I'm sure she really appreciated it ... and I'm glad you had a chance to relax.

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@vandana7 (100300)

• India

4 Aug 16

@TheHorse ... I was about to say that...93! She can pass off as somebody in early 80's. The secret of looking young apparently is remaining active. :)

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

@vandana7 Mentally active, especially. But we did hike all over Manhattan when she was a younger gal in her mid-80s.

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

It really was a great time. She told me she had fun too. I'll attach a picture of her relaxing with me. She looks pretty good for 93. I told her that.

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@DianneN (247186)

• United States

5 Aug 16

I'm happy you and your aunt had a nice visit. I thought those were my trees when I first saw the photo! Lol! We have two acres, too. I don't know how your 93 year old auntie can manage all that land without help!!!!

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

5 Aug 16

Oh, they have help. She lives with her son and his wife, and she has an aide who helps her get around. Her son and his wife have sent all of their kids of to college. They have landscapers and all of that Long Island stuff.

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@Lucky15 (37374)

• Philippines

4 Aug 16

Wishing next month. :))

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

5 Aug 16

What's happening next month?

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@Lucky15 (37374)

• Philippines

5 Aug 16

@TheHorse lesser work.

@Ritu96 (897)

• Sonipat, India

4 Aug 16

when my 2nd semester exams got finished on 15 may

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

Wow--you have a bit of a wait! I hope you enjoy the process of learning. I love teaching!

• Sonipat, India

5 Aug 16

@TheHorse i love the process of learning and understand the importance of exams bt my college lecturers pester me by taking lots of class test

@CaseyRoss9966 (4056)

• United States

4 Aug 16

Last week when I went to the beach was the most relaxing. I have high blood pressure so it was good for my blood pressure and it was even back to normal some of the days I was there.

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

Sounds great! Maybe you should go there more often. I miss the beach.

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@Hatley (163776)

• Garden Grove, California

29 Aug 16

swimming does it for me also,today right now Im relaxed as my bank moved to 21.9100 so today I hit 22 and the 31st I bet I ht 23

@vandana7 (100300)

• India

4 Aug 16

I am most relaxed with my princess. So this morning I was singing "Brown girl in the ring" (Boney M), and my hero (her bro), asked me to put that song. I uploaded youtube. You know that la la la la la bit. My hero sang that, and what do you know..the princess tries her hand at it. I'd be less than honest if I say she was perfect musically. But she was perfect for making my day. Her bro surprisingly sings quite well! But I am smitten by the girl. :)

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

The joy of kids is contagious. I made some new young friends in LA (our host's children). Tomorrow, I'll volunteer at my friend's preschool.

@DaddyEvil (137259)

• United States

13 Aug 16

I am happy you got to see your Aunt, pony! I am also happy that you apparently had a wonderful/relaxing time while you were on vacation! That is what a vacation is supposed to be all about, instead of always hurrying from one thing to another, just so you can say you've seen/done what all your friends have seen/done while they were on vacation. I've done that kind of "vacation" before and found out how truly draining it can be! Never again will I be wasting my time, energy and money on that type of vacation! Glad you are home!

@teamfreak16 (43418)

• Denver, Colorado

4 Aug 16

I was just relaxed a few minutes ago, outside listening to a song called "Solitude" on my iPod.

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@TheHorse (218940)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Aug 16

Sounds good to me. I was actually pretty relaxed a couple of hours ago, watching my kid client and his two cousins (I took them out too) playing at McDonalds. But I have to do a progress note now.

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