Sun River, Oregon

Sun River, Oregon. August 2009

For the first time in over 18 years we did not spend our summer vacation in France, but instead headed to Oregon and the Sun River Resort. A Resort built in the 60s with plenty of homes and condos to choose from (or the lodge), a village center, two large swimming pools,three golf courses, putting greens, golf practice ranges, a few dozen tennis courts, a world class Spa, 29 miles of bike trails, a stable, and a marina with canoes and rafts ready to float down the slow Deschutes river.

With three bikes in the garage we spent our days riding to and fro all of our activities. Only one day in 7 did we venture into the car for a drive up to Pauline Lake and a hike to the natural hot springs on the far side. Even on that one day in the car we spent most of the day out in nature, collecting Obsedian rocks from the volanic caldera that formed the lake, lazing about in the steaming out water by the shore and hiking around the lake.

Each morning we would take time to read in bed with our daughter squeezed between us, drink our coffee, and wait until the urge hit us to get up and move on out. With backpacks packed and saddled onto the back of our bikes we headed out for the tennis courts and the pool, or the golf range, the stables, or a picnic on the river while floating with the current. The ease and peacefulness even in the heat of summer was for the taking. No rushing, no traffic (except once in awhile on the bike) and simple living outdoors. Riding by a friends rental house we would stop by and say hello and check in.

When was the last time you dropped in on someone (let alone by bike)? It is something from the past or from the life we lived in our small village in France where everything was close by, convenient, and easy to walk or bike to. How we missed it and loved living this way again at Sun River.

So once again we were able to create what we so love, the easy simpler way of living.

If you haven't been to Sun River I highly recommend it for a family vacation, reunions, and a week of relaxation and heaven for everyone of all ages. www.sunriver-resort.com

If you only have one week vacation

This is the first summer in over 16 years that we have not gone to France. It's not that we didn't want to, but it is also the first time in 20 plus years that my husband, Jean has limited vacation time as a result of taking a new position in which they ONLY give 2 weeks per year. Forget health care, it is a crime that at age 50 plus you are relegated to 2 weeks vacation!

Okay, I have to admit we snuck in a week unpaid earlier this year to tie us over, but still, vacation time is almost more important than health care-- after all it does keep us healthier.

So looking around we decided to head north to the Sun River Resort outside of Bend, Oregon. We heard a lot about it as a great place for kids, relaxing, easy, and chock full of activities. After two days I have to agree, this is a little bit of heaven. The grand pine trees, blue sparkling river, twenty-nine miles of paved bike trails, and aesthetic looking wood houses all nestled behind their own grove of trees. Even at the height of summer, it doesn't feel crowded (unless you are at the pool between 3-5) and everyone is nice. Everyone says "Good Morning," as you pass them on the bike path. Your neighbor welcomes you to Sun River and the concierge services are more than helpful.  As a wonderful treat, a friend and her family rented a house nearby for the same week and we are seeing each other spontaneously for a float down the river, a dinner, and a swim. There is no doubt we are seeing them more this week than I have in a year at home.

With only one week vacation, you have to make the most of it. Like a Club Med or the all inclusive clubs around the world that we so love, Sun River is a great option. There is something for everyone, a kids camp, tons of activities to choose from, and most importantly with 29 miles of bike trails you never (or rarely) have to get into a car.  I have to say, this alone is what makes the difference between a relaxing vacation and one in which you have to work (not to be compared with a traveling vacation which is a different category).  Okay we do have to cook and shop a bit, but the trade off is more leisurely meals and hopefully a few pounds not gained.

In driving up to Oregon, we talked about how far it was and how big America is. It has taken us as long to drive from San Francisco to Portland (where we took a detour to on our way up) as it does from our town in the south of France to London, England.  No wonder this country is so divided politically.

Soon we will get back to our beloved France and Europe, but meanwhile, it is a treat to explore some other beautiful parts of this huge country and make the most of our week vacation.

Trying to Relax -- try this wise old secret

Relaxation is difficult for many people as our lives are chock full of “To Do” Lists,
emails, ideas, worries, meetings, and more things to do. When we do get down time,
we find that it is difficult to truly relax. Our days are usually so busy that our bodies
and minds are not trained to slow down. We are reeling in a review of the past or thinking
about the future. To be in the now is not easy.

My husband especially has a challenging time relaxing. After reading his emails
he claims he is relaxing by reading the news online. Something I find hard to believe.
One evening as my daughter and
I were reading in bed, all snuggled up, my husband walked in the room and looked at us
with envy. He plopped down with his newspaper and The Economist when he said,
You both look so relaxed.”

My daughter in all earnestness said, “Papa, you know what you need to get relaxed?”
“No," he said, " What?” “You need your very own library card”

We both looked at each other trying not to laugh. “Really, tell me more.” He responded.

“If you have your own library card, you can go to the library and take out 20 books and
put them in a basket by your bed, like I do. If you don’t like one, you have another to choose from.
If you read a good book, Papa, I promise you will be relaxed to, just like Maman and me.”

What wise words I thought. She is right. A good book, a really good book is a ticket to immediate relaxation.
It’s free (at the library), easily accessible, and takes you away to another world.

In the ancient city of Thebes, inscripted over the library are the following words, “Medicine for the soul.”
And is that not what relaxation is all about, feeding the soul, healing the soul, and regaining energy to
move back into the world we live in.

So, if you don’t have one now, walk to your nearest library and ask for your very own library card.
And why you are there check out an armful of books (after all it is free and not many great things
are these days).

Each night when you want to relax after work, pick up the book and feed your soul and if you have
someone snuggling next to you while doing so, it’s even better!

This blog was written for the SF Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-17587-SF-Entrepreneurial-Lifestyle~y2009m8d2-The-secret-or-at-least-one-to-relaxing

Twilight Zone can teach us about our spending habits

Twilight Zone, one of the first psychic/paranormal type shows of the 60s and 70s may be more on target than we ever would have thought. For those who remember it, there was always a weird event that happened at the end of the show and the music da..da..da sang throught the TV, leaving you shivering.

I haven't thought of the show for years, but last night I got a flashback of the one and only story I remember from the show .. which has stuck with me for .. many years.

The story was about a woman who used her credit card frivolously for everything. She was addictive to buying things and was the original “shop alcoholic.” The twist to the story, however, as I told my daughter and husband, was that every time she used her credit card, a ding would go off and instead of acquiring something new, she would loose something. Before she knew it, clothes were disappearing from her closet, her pots and pans were gone, furniture was never seen again, and yet she kept on charging on her credit card. She knew it was happening but couldn’t help herself. Then one day, she realized she had charged so much, she found herself standing in her front yard starring at an empty dirt lot – no house, no car, and no family. She was all alone and desperate with only her shiny plastic credit card in her hand.

Watching the episode back in the 60s it seemed far fetched, but today I wonder if they had it right all along. When I look around and see what has happened to our spending and saving habits and to the way we have been hypnotized into believing we need to buy the latest and greatest; when I listen to the government talk about the national debt and the need for Americans to start buying again to save the economy; I flashback to that woman starring at the empty dirt lot with her credit card in her hand and I get scarred out of my wits.

A Simple French Pleasure - Walking

One of the simplest pleasures the French embrace with a vengeance is walking. If you can walk, walk. Taking the extra 5, 10, 20 minutes to get some fresh air, stretch your legs, and enjoy the sunshine is not only healthy for you, but feels sooooo good. I read recently by a woman named Lori Hamann, of Evolve Life Coaching that said if you want to attract good things in your life, than "feel good." She goes on to say, “Nothing is more important than feeling good. This is a key to manifesting abundance in your life. The French, they’ve figured it out, walking makes you feel good, so do it as much as you can.

Waking up to the bright sunshine overlooking the beautiful bay, I decided that my daughter and I would walk to her summer camp ½ mile away instead of drive. Nudging her to wake a bit earlier, dress a bit quicker, and eat her breakfast while she read a book (versus read and then swallow her breakfast whole), we had plenty of time to walk.

The one thing I learned about living in France was not only the benefits of walking for your health, but how it is so enjoyable as a mode of transportation. Living in more suburban areas, it is not always easy. It definitely takes longer and it often feels like you are wasting time. On the other hand, when I walk with my daughter to camp, we are getting exercise, have a nice stroll hand in hand, have time to leisurely talk about the day, the dog gets a good walk, and we are getting our Vitamin D early in the morning as the sun shines on us.

Twenty minutes after we left the house we arrived at her Audubon Summer Camp refreshed, calm, connected, and relaxed. She stopped along the way to show me a plant that she had just learned about and pointed out the area in the bay in which the leopard sharks hangout. Today, she informed me she was going to wade into the water and catch one herself.

After leaving her at camp, I walked back home thinking about my day, reposed and ready to go. In reflection, I realized I saved 5 minutes of driving time each way (as the walking path had a shortcut). Choosing to use my 10 minutes differently than normal was a reminder once again on how the small choices we make lead to healthy, joyful living. The fact that today, I was conscious and willing to take that extra ten minutes and wake up a bit earlier, made all the difference in my morning and my day for that matter. Maybe I can’t do it all the time, and yes it takes extra time and planning, but that is just what the French do—take that extra time and reap the rewards it provides.

I highly recommend if you want to feel good today, wake up earlier, take an extra 30 or 60 minutes and walk to the store, walk to a restaurant, walk to the park, the school, camp, work, or even the bus stop. You will feel great afterwards. It’s a promise!

And yes, you will reduce your carbon footprint at the same time.