Hello, loyal fan base. I haven’t been writing and I do apologize. Instead of continuing my non-writing career indefinitely, I choose to recap with a few lists. Read on to hear where I have been, what my summer lifestyle looked like, and how my current routine is treating me!
Where have I been all this time?
Ohio, mostly. I went home for longer than expected. If you told December Becca that she wouldn’t start a new chapter until the following August, I’m not sure she would believe it– I had no intention of passing spring, let alone summer, in Ohio.
Winter: worked at the climbing gym and as a barista, with hopes to learn bartending
Spring: set up autumn plans as an au pair in France; quit the barista gig and started nannying
Summer: wrote a bucket list and really followed through on it. Mostly focused on playing sports this summer, I even considered the appeal of a routine that allows you to easily join a league or two on weeknights. If they tried to sell me a 9-5 with this as the hook, I might have bitten. Now that is even more shocking than enjoying my first Toledo summer since Covid.
My summer lifestyle could be labeled “Country Club (Lite),” full of:
- Playing tennis, golf, and volleyball (on free courts)
- Dressing up frequently, wearing linen pants or dresses (thrifted items)
- Going to the local farmers markets (sometimes browsing more than buying)
- Nannying a 3 and 4 year old (and getting paid to do fun activities with the kiddos)
- Drinking a beer or two at the local breweries (not binging)
More recently, I took off to France. Not Paris, not the southern coast… It had been too long since being in the mountains, so I found myself in the Alps. As much as I am in love with the region after my first month, I didn’t choose the location, although now I would in a heartbeat: instead, I chose my au pair family. They are a very active family, going on adventures every weekend with their campervan to do sports: think trail running, cycling, cross country skiing. Before arriving, I thought “my speed!” and now I understand that they are on a whole other level. I have some work cut out for myself before ski season starts. Good thing I am a fast learner, I hope my heart follows suit with the cardio training.
I’ve been getting to know the family here, and it is exciting to be able to make some jokes in French and bake sweet treats that they enjoy. They have had many au pairs in the past, so it is a different dynamic than when I was an au pair in Italy. They are very kind and welcoming, but I am still finding my place.
Becca’s French lifestyle can be summed up with “Very Active Grandma.”
Becca is:
- In bed by 9pm
- Cooking and baking
- Drinking lots of tea
- Eating her vegetables
- Sleeping with the window open
- Still crocheting and reading
She is also:
- Very actively working on her cardio (Hiking, cycling, running, climbing, paddling, falling off the mountain bike…)
- Convinced she wants to compete in a triathlon after 5 bike rides, 2 runs, and 0 swims
- Walking minimum 8k (5mi) per day to take the daughter to and from school (it’s uphill both ways, too!)
It doesn’t get better than this, does it?
Still, there are a few things I am not as stoked about and am trying to work on. Aren’t there always? One is not knowing what I am doing with my life careerwise. With my 25th coming up, I fear that I am behind on that aspect of my life. (I know, I know, nobody knows what they are doing and I am so young but still! The societal pressures!) The other is not having made local friends and consequently spending more time on my phone than I’d like. Starting my French classes and spending more time at the climbing gym will help.
And with that I am signing off until next week. Call me, text me, keep me diligent about posting, tell me what you want to hear about. Thanks for understanding the lack of photos, sometimes you have to live without your phone in your hand.
Ok love you bye, thanks for reading 🙂