Where My Happiness Lies

There are few things in life that bring me pure, unadulterated, relaxing, happiness. Its those things I draw upon when I need to feel more centered, more focused on life, when I need to remind myself of what is really important to me.

Sitting in a white adironack chair, book in my hand, gazing out over the green lawn of my parent’s connecticut house. The red barn to my left with the pink clematis climbing it sides, the small vegetable garden in front with the cats playing in the catnip bush. Birdsong among the trees, bees hovering over the sunflowers and daisies, ducks idling on the small pond. A fresh summer breeze rustling the willow branches; a lawnmower in the distance, the smell of cut grass on the air. Its quiet, peaceful, the epitome of relaxation.

Take a right out of the driveway of my teenage home and eventually you’ll find a dirt road coursing its way through the country. Dense forests giving way to acres of hayfields, golden in the late afternoon sunlight. A crumbling rock wall perfect for sitting on, buttercup flowers among the grass and a lone tree reminiscent of tuscan scenery. There seems to be no one around for miles, sometimes someone will drive by in an open-top jeep, someone on a horse will briefly cross the road continuing on the horse trails that criss cross through the woods. I could get lost in the grass, get lost in the way the trails wind and unwind in the woods. I have gotten lost and its amazing in a world so built up there are still small areas where you can still just escape.

To truly escape however you need to go north about 5 hours, climb on board a boat that looks pure 1970s with its burnt orange vinyl seats and faded tan siding. You bounce around on the waves in a way that enduces headaches and nausea but immediately it is taken away when you arrive at the breakwater dock, walk up wooden steps that lead to a small log cabin and take in the simplicity of it all. There is no electricity here, no connection to the outside world. Cell phones barely work. Hours are spent, Mike’s Hard Lemonades, good books and sunsets viewed from a hammock hung between two trees right by the water. The sun filtered through pine bows, the crunch of leaves and pine cones under your feet, the water lapping against the shore, the water cooling the breeze before it hits your skin and rocks you gently in your roped abode. There is nothing more peaceful than that, nothing more relaxing; you are completely cut off from the world, from technology, from the stresses placed by others. At night instead of turning on the computer, or television, you light a fire in the large pit outside the bunkhouse and watch the sparks fly into the evening sky. The sunsets are fire red, passionate pink, buttery yellows and molten orange. The sun seems to sigh as it slips behind the lake, illuminating the mountains, creating gorgeous silhouettes.

When I lean back, close my eyes and think about these places, I am immediately taken there. I can feel the warmth of the sun, hear the sounds of nature around me. It relaxes me and makes me long to be there. Its rare I have moments like these in New York.

Spring finally arrived yesterday, with the thermometer breaking at 70 degrees. I left work practically drunk off of the energy of New York. Theres something about this season, the people come out of their shells, everything just shifts. Where New Yorkers were once cold and distant, they’re now warm and embracing, saying hello to you in the street and smiling at each other. Theres hospitality that is usually lacking in this city. It only lasts a few weeks, before temperatures soar to unbearable and people start itching to get out of the confines of this heat trap. But right now? Everyone is loving it.

I decided to walk home through the park since it was so gorgeous out. Usually I would pull out the ipod and plug myself in, alienating myself from the outside world. Instead I put it back in my bag, keeping my ears free to take in the sounds of spring. Once I was away from the congestion of fifth avenue and safely inside the park thats when the feeling began. Everything was bright, green, colorful amongst the still somewhat gray trees, the air thick with the smell of cherry blossoms, the only noises the laughter of people relaxing in the grass or the clink of baseballs against bats. It was like falling in love, in love with spring and with new york. Just when I think mayb I should move out of the city, I don’t get enough of the outdoors, New York pulls a wonderful evening in the park out of its dusty hat and immediately my outlook is transformed.

The lawns, barren of people a few short weeks ago, now are teaming with people throwing frisbees, playing with their dogs and lounging on oversized blankets. While in the past my happiness was found in Connecticut and New Hampshire, my happiness can now be found in my new backyard, in the depths of central park among the elm trees and the rock formations; the architecture rising above the greenery. Thats what makes New York special to me. That there can be all this gorgeous natural beauty amongst all this striking architecture, both my true loves in life. Its one of the more picturesque sights in life, seeing an ornate stone building rising up behind the spring buds of the trees.

Well maybe that sunset over the mountains and the lake takes precedence over that. Nothing beats those colors.

Where do you find your happiness?