In early July, I went to northern Minnesota off of the Gunflint Trail to a cabin for a week. Part of the week is spent in solitude and the rest is spent communing with some of the wonderful women in my life. This year was the second annual retreat. It is interesting to me why many women tend to wait to do this type of thing (be alone) until we are almost 40 or ARE 40 something or older. I guess for most of us, prior to this we are busy raising young children and/or getting our careers up and going. Both were the case for me.
I can't tell you how rejuvenating it is to get away from the city. There is no cell or phone service and no internet/wireless. It does have electricity and running water but I don't consider these things that I necessarily have to get away from. It does FEEL good to get away from computers which take up much daily life. It also feels good to live a simple life for a week. Believe me, once you do it, you will want another week and ANOTHER!
Having never lived alone in all of my life, I do appreciate the simplicity of the solitary life. I can cook if I want but don't have to. I can clean when I want and only have to clean up after myself. Since I don't have any bills or things to repair or money I have to make in this life, I don't have to do much at all. What I do do is sleep, read, walk, swim, run and think (or not).
The best part of this trip is knowing and seeing that beautiful, pristine and peaceful places exist in this world!
