Fourth of July, Abroad

As I sit here, after an unusually busy and sweaty day in the office, I finally have time to reflect on how weird it feels not to be celebrating the Fourth of July. Sure, I can (and did) blast the most American of music at my desk today- Bruce Springsteen, Creedence, John Mellencamp, Zac Brown Band- you know the deal. And sure, us American (and honorary Americans) can get together and celebrate. I've worked on a few Independence Days in my time. But there's a very big difference between working at Fayson Lakes and working IT support in Copenhagen.
It's also very strange to, for the first time in my life, not be spending this day outside, surrounded by the people I grew up with: family, friends and neighbors. This blog is primarily a place of glorifying travel and exploration and bursting out of comfort zones, of reveling in the semi-nomadic lifestyle. But there are times like today that I'm reminded why there are such things as comfort zones.

New Jersey can be beautiful.

And serene.

I miss the times when this was my office, and the guard chair was my desk.When the soundtrack to my day was the clack of knock-hockey pucks and shouts of 'Dibbles' rather than internet radio. When the most common question in my day was 'Can I get the ball?' not, 'What's the wifi password?' When a rumble of thunder meant a free half hour break. When days started with a swim to Sabeys and ended with swim out to the island  rather than a few laps in a pool and a trip to the gym.

When the end of the work day was signaled by the sunset.

This was a truly wonderful place to be a kid, and, for that matter, an adult- though I certainly don't think of myself as such. This will be the first summer I've spent fully away from the lake where I learned to swim, taught myself to do a backflip, worked my way back to full strength after two knee surgeries and spent innumerable fantastic days and nights with friends and family. 

Sunset is a particularly magical time.

Fayson leaves its mark on you. To this day I can't hear an airhorn without my stomach doing somersaults and my heartbeat increasing. Again and again I find myself wondering why cornhole isn't a thing in Europe. I still think Dibbles is the best water game ever and have tried unsuccessfully to convince my friends here that it will be awesome to play in the harbor. I wow strangers with the diving skills I honed at the dock. As far as I'm concerned, the best way to spend a Friday night will always be sitting around a bonfire or hanging out in the woods. And when I'm swimming in open water, there's always the thought in the back of my mind that there could be a turtle behind me.

So, to everyone back home, I wish you the best of summers. Live it up, and take full advantage of this beautiful place that I'm honored to call my home. Cheers to you all.

It is now approximately 8:00pm, lifeguards are off duty. Swim at your own risk.