Trip deets? First 2 nights in Florence in a hotel, next 2 in Chianti and then 3 in Val d’Orcia (Pienza) at agriturismi. I’ve been to Italy before but had not spent much time in this region of Tuscany, so beautiful. Excellent way to slow down.
Next we drive north 6 hours to the Dolomites to hike for a week. Final week will be split between Lakes district (my husband is a canyoneer and will go run a few canyons with a guide if the weather is good while I explore towns, ride the ferry and eat more gelato ). Our final few days will be in the Cinque Terre.
This is his first trip to Italy so when planning it, I chose small villages and scenic rural areas with outdoor activities in mind. He liked Florence a lot which was a big surprise, I mean I love it there but he’s not a city guy and we enjoyed it all, art, food, people, hotel near the Duomo. Wonderful trip so far and I feel incredibly lucky.
We’re currently in the deep woods in North Georgia! It’s a tiny weekend trip, but exactly what I needed after the last three weeks of midterm intensity at my job. The cabin porch is up in the green leaves of oaks and laurels–just starting to turn yellow. We had bagels with salmon and cream cheese for breakfast, and will head into town with our dog for late lunch at a brewery. We watched an old Sherlock Holmes movie on BluRay last night–no actual TV to disturb us. This is how I want to live in retirement!
our empty nest continues to be very busy. Over the course of the past 8 weeks, we have:
-spent a weekend at a music festival (seeing Springsteen perform on “our” beach…fulfilling a lifelong bucket list item for us).
-Took an amazing trip through southern Utah, hiking and biking our way through the Mighty Five national parks.
-Traveled to Maryland (twice) to visit family.
-Traveled to Rochester to see D24 at school.
-Traveled to Boston to see D20, and then continued up to NH for a weekend of hiking the White Mts.
We are exhausted! We’ve got nothing major on the agenda until we host a houseful for Thanksgiving in a few weeks. Actually looking forward to some quiet weekends…overall, I’d say we are doing fine in the empty nest.
So, as new empty nesters, we decided to get a puppy. At first, I was hesitant. I had visions of more free time and travel. However, getting a puppy has been pure joy. We might possibly be turning into to helicopter dog parents. The puppy comes to work with us every day (we take turns) and we absolutely adore her. Having a puppy with the kids off at college has really been wonderful for us, both individually and as a couple. Good spouse bonding!
A puppy is a great antidote to too much empty nest quiet. The first year both of my girls went off to sleepaway camp for two weeks, I lasted about a week and then we spontaneously got a puppy
I will admit that our nest feels emptier this second semester. We were so busy and active all fall that there was no time to really notice, I guess. The cold weather has kept us in most evenings and many weekends, and I’m starting to really feel my girls’ absences. My answer to that is to plan a bunch of travel. So far, I’ve booked Puerto Rico, a cabin in the smoky mountains, and a long weekend at Acadia NP over the course of the next six months. Also beginning the planning for a trip to Portugal early in 2026.
We just took a big step towards our next chapter! Our house is under contract and we plan to move across the country in mid June. We’ve been ready to leave rainy Seattle for several years but waited for both girls to be settled in their college lives. Very excited and a little nervous too!
). Our final few days will be in the Cinque Terre.
