Swimming in a lake.

I have been falling behind in my writing here. I apologize. It isn't that nothing interesting has happened here. It's quite the opposite. In fact, the entire situation is the opposite of what it was in Florida. In Florida, there was little to 'write home about.' For one thing, we were home, as was everybody we knew. Now, although we are still 'home,' (because wherever you go, there you are!) we are also someplace new. Because I have promised to write about the new things, and because so much here is new to us, there is plenty to write about.

For example, we have been swimming in a lake! Twice! Now, I am sure that this is nothing new to most Americans, but to us, who have not been swimming in a lake before (me, at least - Bronwen has been before, but a long time ago), it is extremely exciting. And very different from swimming in the ocean. The ocean is nice, to be sure, and it is still a reasonable weekend option to us, but it is about a 2 - 3 hour drive away. And it is just the ocean. There will be sunburns and sandy beaches and salt water. Nothing new for us. The lake, on the other hand, is only 20 minutes away. There is a sandy beach and relatively clean water - no amoebas, anyway - and no crashing waves to disrupt your swim. Plus, across the water, instead of more water, is a forest!

As I said, pretty boring stuff to most Americans. For me, however, it reminds me of an idealized summer camp, which is a reality I have never had any real experience with. I think of The Parent Trap or Disney's Fort Wilderness.

I am a little concerned that we are acting like tourists; I am not sure if most locals actually spend much time swimming in the river. But it is such a pleasant and relaxing activity, that we have already gone twice. Besides, we had may as well be tourists! We are living in the Variety Vacationland, after all.