  The differences between life and vacation: when I barely get in a shower every few days here, it’s not because everyone needs so much of me that I can’t budget the time for a simple shower, but because we’re too busy rushing off most mornings to get hikes in before the hot sun gets too high in the sky or because I lingered too long watching the sun set on the beautiful mountains, and have to rush in to get babies to bed and dishes washed. When the dishes pile up high on the counter tops, it’s not because we barely had enough energy to throw ourselves in bed after making dinner the night before, but rather because we were lucky enough to entertain someone with our inspired cooking dishes and we all lingered and laughed around the table until our guest could barely drive home awake and we could barely stumble off to bed ourselves. When I’m bone tired at the day’s end, it’s not because I’ve spent my biological resources in the three people of wife, mother, and professional, but rather because I’ve spent myself on a fulfilling hike and filled my belly afterward with satisfying, replenishing food.
When I drink deep of a glass of wine or a bottle of beer, it’s not because I’m self-medicating with the best depressant I can get without a perscription, but rather to quench the thirst from the hot sun, or to compliment a perfect meal or moment. 
