How long does it take to learn to 'go with the flow'?

View from the deck of the little beach side restaurant

It's amazing how time gets lost when there are no firm commitments to honor, but we are still bad at just going with the flow.  So many years of total structure and ensuring that all the little pieces that had to be in place day in and day out were.  Wish I was better at letting that go, as we spent the morning figuring out what to do when. I guess it's the only way that we can ensure that each of our hopes and wishes are being met, one way or another.  My working towards learning to be more care-free continues to be a work in progress.

At 10ish we headed down to the beach. I worked away at reading the rest of my book, Cec went for a long swim.  I should have joined him, but the lack of hot water in our apartment was a hindrance. Salt in my hair meant a cold shower....when the breeze is cool, it dissuades you from wanting to endure that. After a couple of hours, we made our way back down the beach to the little stand that we ate at two days ago, but much to Cecil's disappointment, they were out of salmon, and instead he ended up with a panini that was filled with a version of  pastrami.  

Resort pool, pristine but closed to us.

That afternoon I actually finished my book and realized it is likely the first book that I have read that is just pure pleasure and fiction in years. I am always busying my time with books on wellness, spirituality, self-help, coaching, leadership.... all of which I enjoy immensely, but none that are purely just for the quiet enjoyment that I got from this one.   I loved the opportunity to give myself the gift of getting lost in a good read, realizing it's been way too long.  Then I have to ask myself why?

We headed over to Alimini 1 at 2pm, hoping to catch the shop that is supposed to be there before the siesta break...again, no luck. I am not really sure the shop ever really opens. It is so bizarre to us as Canadians, to imagine that as we enjoy day after day of +26 weather, they have all but closed down around here because the season is over! There were only a handful of us at the huge resort. The pool was warm and beautiful, and we'd seen it being cleaned, but it was closed to us as well.  Still, I kept telling myself, "I am here, it's southern Italy, and how lucky I am."  With an open mind and heart, all is well.
After two weeks in Europe,  I had to admit that I was missing home just a little. The family, my king size bed, my familiarity. Although I didn't feel I was in a rush to get home, I didn't feel bad about my vacation coming to an end either. I think that makes me one of the very lucky ones.