When the going gets bad, the prey runs. When it comes to fight or flight, I’m a flier. Unfortunately, there are lots of stressful situations- moving, for example, in a mere three weeks with no particular place in mind as of yet and two large dogs to manage in the process- where flight is potentially a less than optimal response. So in those cases, I hold in my head a file folder of Happy Places to which I can retreat, if only for a moment, if only in my head. A Total Recall, if you will, of my own making, a temporary respite I can run off to, soak up the sun, and return to whatever garbage heap I have to sort through upon my return.
I have different kinds of happy places depending on my needs at the moment: Serene ones. Fun ones.
One year ago, I was in the most beautiful place on Earth. Tanzania was so gorgeous, so everything that I expected it to be, that to bring back the memories causes me an almost visceral ache of longing to see it once again.
The moment we arrived on shore at Greystoke Mahale will forever be one of the most stunning memories of my life, a lifelong dream finally coming true after two decades of wishing.
Everything there was more vivid, more alive, it seemed.
Though maybe it was just the adrenaline talking.
Sharing a water hole with wild elephants under the blistering sun beats a cruise ship any day.
And the sky- looking up from a lantern-lit boma to see the inky expanse arching over you in a vast and silent blanket: well, let’s just say going to Disneyland for vacation will never hold the same appeal again.
I think I will be here a lot in the coming weeks. What’s your happy place?
Kauai. 🙂 Until I get to Italy, hands down my happy place will always be Kauai. Second is my beautiful niece and nephew, who grace my wallpaper for when I get stressed out at work (every 5 seconds).
ha ha haaaaaaa. Well, I agree with Kauai. Kids are usually what I am seeking happy place to escape. 😉
I love this post, and I have my Happy Places, too (New Mexico, Central Park), but mostly I cam in here to comment on that picture of the bird. Have you posted that before? That is maybe one of the most stunning photographs I’ve ever seen. Obviously there are a lot of great pictures here, and what an amazing place for photographs! But that shot of the bird….wow. There’s just something about it. I almost feel like I’m flying, looking at it.
Isn’t that something? I posted it on Facebook but not sure I posted it here. I wish I were the photographer my husband is. He’s goooooood.
My Happy Place is Paris in the Jardin du Luxembourg sitting in the grass looking at the flowers and watching the world go by. Some days I feel like I can still smell it.
Ah, Paris. I’ve only been once, but that was another happy place memory, standing on a bridge watching the Eiffel Tower light up for the first time.
My happy place is sometimes reliving those moments with my lost pets, sometimes living moments now with my new babies.