a new summer ritual

we're starting a new summer routine: a post-dinner stroll through the neighborhood. 

we visited alex's family in michigan again last weekend, and i finally was able to articulate something i couldn't on previous visits. they use their back deck as an outdoor living room. in the summer, everything happens outside. the back door is always open, and the family flocks to that space instead of to the indoor living room. there is such a liberation in the fusion of indoor and outdoor spaces that we don't appreciate in our constant seeking of air conditioned comfort in the summer. our walk last night made me feel a little more connected to this idea. we listened to the noise of the crickets as we strolled down the dimly lit streets, enjoying the last rosy haze of the sunset. we peeked into people's windows and watched the train go by with a renewed sense of awe. our last apartment had a balcony, and we never really enjoyed it to the fullest extent that we could have.

i can already tell that these walks will help us feel like we are making the most of every moment. we live in such a beautiful area, and with the days being so long we felt that we should try to take more advantage of the daylight we have. so last night, on our stroll, we declared our commitment to making this happen as many nights as possible while the weather is nice. our first official stroll truly was a "10 out of 10" experience for me, and i can't wait to keep this ritual going. i have also noticed our conversations on these walks are present and connected than if we were just sitting on the couch. i think this is particularly important as we move into this new phase of