I’ve been struggling with outdoor recreation this summer. Trails have been packed. Even our local small swimming hole looked like a holiday weekend when we drove down there the other day to take the dog for a walk.

On the one hand, I’m glad the pandemic has gotten more people to spend time outside, but on the other hand, I don’t want to be anywhere near said people. Weekend after weekend, I keep opting to stay home. I have woods around my house, and that’s good enough most days. But I still yearn for new landscapes and new experiences.

My Instagram page has gone from ‘outdoor adventurer’ to ‘home gardener,’ and I’m not sure how I feel about that. I get as excited about a ripe tomato these days as I used to about a mountain summit!

(Damn, that was a good tomato though)