Plunging into trouble comes to mind as I consider our photo theme this week. Our photo theme is simply “Plunge” which can be a mental plunge or jumping into a new adventure or simply a plunge into water. As a pisces in her 50’s I can say, I have been plunging into water all my life. I am a water girl.
I’ve graduated from just pools and hot tubs to ocean snorkeling and have even successfully dove off of Cozemel.
Adventurous Plunges
Some kids are meant to be adventurous and curious. Steve was that kid. I was not that kid. It took me forever to lose those bicycle training wheels.
However, something happened as I neared my 50s; I doubt I’m any braver, but somewhere along the way a more adventurous me blossomed. Although the process started before Steve entered my life, it has now definitely sped up with him by my side.
The First Adventure
Deciding I needed a challenge, I enlisted a friend to take me on my first backpacking trip. We trained together so I could get conditioned, we practiced with packs for many miles, then we headed out to The Narrows in Zion National Park.
A Special Birthday Challenge
For my 50th birthday I did a solo drive from Southern California to Napa. In Napa, friends joined me to check off the Napa wine area bucket list item. The way home I drove the winding CA HWY 1.
It had been many years since I last was on this route and as a passenger, I was nearly ill. This time, I enjoyed the drive even if I was slightly white knuckled here and there.
To Labor is to be Strong
Back in February 2022, I became brave enough to re-roof a rental house of ours. Just a couple trips up and down that ladder onto the roof before I was convinced I wasn’t going to fall off. Here’s also a short video on Instagram if you have access.
I’m glad I’m no longer that unadventurous kid. Diving into something unknown has opened up my experiences giving my future many more possible plunges! We maybe older but we’re definitely not standing still.
Too Old to Learn?
NEVER! Being technical I have a knack for digesting unfamiliar technical areas and being able to learn something new that I can apply to a project. Sometimes it takes more time than expected but I can typically get to the end result.
I plunged into blogging in 2019 as a way to document our travels and share my pictures.
I plunged into video editing in 2020 as a way to share Steve’s design and build of our current camper on our F350.
I plunged into #SundayStills in 2021 with a goal to put more time into photography.
Does Plunging have to be Adventurous?
We really don’t need to plunge right in, be spontaneous or adventurous. Maybe it’s just a small break in a busy day and we hearing a whisper reporting all is well so yes, it’s ok to take a break or just enjoy the quiet.
Then again, maybe this is really a plunge? Isn’t the quiet time when you plunge into your book, your writing, your exercise, your cooking, your spa time, your meditations? All of those and more reward us with a deeper sense of calm and self.
Go ahead and take the plunge into your quiet time.
About the Photo Challenge
A weekly themed photo challenge hosted by Terri. Check out her Blog and come back and visit for more SundayStills and traveling posts!
More Sunday Still Posts
Thanks for visiting our travel blog and I hope you enjoyed finding the #SundayStills Challenge. You can join the weekly challenge by visiting our hosts blog Second Wind Leisure. and checking out Terri’s post for this week, Vivid Memories Spark Gratitude.
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We were just in Zion National Park last week! We didn’t hike the Narrows though as we figured it would be way too cold. We did see some people rent dry gear though and attempt it. Sounds like it would be quite the adventure. Glad to hear that you are now living a life of plunging into adventure! Trying new things is a great way to grow and learn more about yourself.
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I couldn’t agree more. The more you step into new areas, the more experiences you have and the more skills and confidence you gain! I feel like I’ve accelerated the plunging into new areas and projects now than I ever did when I was younger.
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Seems you got your sense of adventure from me. Ha! At least I used to be adventurous, but I have always had a curious mind and like mental challenges. I think it’s served me well because I like to know the story behind the story and I dig for it. Nothing is as it seems on the surface. But I sure didn’t know you did a roofing job. Why?
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Why do a roofing job? Well, 16k or 4K + our time. I’m retired and physically able so I’d rather not go into debt on our old Orange house. Outsourcing the work would’ve cost all of our reserve plus several months of income. I guess it’s the same answer as why we renovated the duplex ourselves or why Steve replumbed my old house when it sprung a slave leak or the list goes on! Eventually we’ll be unable to tackle really physical labor intensive work, but until then, it’s part of our livelihood.
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I love your ending message about plunging into your quiet time, Cheryl! And sometimes it is a deep dive after a rough day of whatever! Wow, a roofer, too, and a techie? A renaissance woman if I’ve ever met one! I’ve never driven along Hwy 1 in that area, so I at least must make that journey–but maybe not this year if the roads are impacted by the crazy weather! I’m so glad you plunged into Sunday Stills and we have met in person because of that decision! I LOVE that pic of Yosemite!
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Aren’t quiet times amazing? I’ve never had a problem getting into my quiet time and I was glad to find I had that reflection off the lake image to share. It’ll be interesting to see how battered the coast gets after these storms. Blogging yields friendships beyond the virtual world…that’s a benefit I didn’t know would happen but am so glad it did.
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