I love having a flexible work schedule in the winter.

Because it means I can do things like grab Shadeaux on a Wednesday morning & go hiking. Today we did a 5-mile lollipop hike on the Spruce Mountain Trail, which was about an hour's drive south of Breezehome. Hiking on off-season weekdays is what hiking is supposed to be - I saw less than 20 people in 2 hours & was essentially alone on the trail for at least three-quarters of the time. I even did my morning meditation session out on the trail (mixed results - beautiful setting, whiny doggo).

All the deets here, courtesy of the AllTrails app.

Hiking is good exercise, good "forest bathing", good bonding time with Shadeaux, good introvert recharge time. I love hiking & need to go as often as possible.

Edit, 01/11/18 07:57: I want to record a strange thought I had yesterday during the hike. I was reflecting on how so many people come to Colorado to enjoy the high peaks & the snow, while I was enjoying the snow-free foothills. It occurred to me that, for how I enjoy the mountains, I might as well never left Pennsylvania. I remembered how much I enjoyed hiking in eastern PA. I think I still have trail maps in my file drawer.

This thought came to me this morning because I was considering vamoosing from Denver & going home, finally. If Shay & I get divorced (which now appears to be a certainty), I'm not sure I want to stay in the same state.

Blind.

So there's a form we're supposed to fill out before starting couple's therapy on Friday & the big question on the form is "what are your goals for therapy?" & I asked Shay what are your goals & she replied what are yours? I said my goal is for us to stay together.

She said her goal was for the therapy to help us break up.

It's over. It's really over. I've known it for months but now I know it, in my guts.