It’s January, and Oliver and I are wrapping up our last day at the beach. That may sound pretty incongruous, to spend a winter weekend at a summer destination. But this beach, not just any beach, is my happy place.

Sure, I’ve spent every minute huddled inside, save for an hour-long walk in the sun a few days ago, but that’s what makes it the most relaxing place I know. It’s quiet even at the height of the summer season, which to many would be quite boring. I find that I don’t rest and relax at home simply because there’s always something to do. When I find myself elsewhere, with no projects or places to go, I truly let my hair down. And that’s just good for the soul. Plus, where there is no obvious fun, you can bring your own.

Whenever I’m here, I tend to recenter myself and inevitably ponder my future. I haven’t felt very inspired to cook anything new to share with you this year, but I hope the ideas will percolate and that will come. I have been able today to sit at my blog for a few hours and process some photos from the last several months. I’ve started to read actual books, which never seems to be easy at home. In the last weeks of last year, several people independently told me that I should write books. So my mind’s been whirring with both ideas and self-doubt, but it’s at a place like this that it actually seems possible.

It also helps that it has been a beautiful, sunny and clear, if not blisteringly cold, North Carolina weekend. One that will ensure I can return home refreshed and ready for the year ahead. At least until the next holiday weekend.

I hope you all have or can find such a happy place for yourselves.