Where do you go when you want to get away from it all?
 

I never really felt like I needed to get away until as of late...I know it seems like a cliche but I ended up walking down to an isolated beach a few miles away (La Jolla, CA). I sat alone and watched the sun go down. While I was down there I had kind of a nice realization that there is a whole world out there besides my misery, and just because my world stopped for a second, the real world didn't...

I have a few options. The most common is my liquor cabinet. When that fails, I go to the lake house to detox on life. There's something therapeutic about fishing and just being out on a pier casting.

For me, I love driving down the US Pacific Coast... the longer I get to drive, the better. It is truly the most relaxing place for me to be in the whole world. There are some others on the top 10 list, but that is the #1 place for me.

Basically, anywhere near water is a place for me to "get away." Whether it's a stream or an ocean, that's where I am most relaxed. Seeing as I am in central PA these days, my closest water source is a little creek running through a nearby town... ktspktsp and I spent our Easter walking around in the sunshine, taking pictures of living things (including each other), and I felt as connected with the oversoul as I used to in a church. Perhaps moreso.

Oh, if I can't be around water, I love to be around trees. So hiking works, too. :)

Near where I live, there's a bike path that runs along the ocean, up at the top of the cliffs. Not too many people get out that way, 'cause there's nothing but brussels sprouts and kale fields out there, right up to the edge.

The seashore is chaotic -- giant rocks, vast slabs of rock tilting down into the sea, natural bridges, sea caves, small coves and hidden beaches accessible only to the most nimble. And the waves, endlessly beating and roaring at the edge of the continent. From the top of a cliff you can look down the coast two miles and see nothing but water and spray and chimneys of rock jutting out of boiling water.

It's a good place to think about all the things that go on outside yourself and put yourself in perspective with -- well, things that are a lot bigger than you or your troubles. Same as you said, visotech.

i generally hit the trail and go backpacking for a few days.. doesnt really matter where, just getting away from people, getting outside, and doing something physical generally helps whatever i'm trying to get away from.

visotech... that's really beautiful.

When i need to get away. I take a drive to a lake that's not too far from our house. Seeing the endless ripples in the lake is always calming.

And when that doesn't work... when I need to get away from it all is when i need to deal with something... and that's when I turn to those closest to me and in them is my place to get away from things.

sweetpea

There's an outdoor basketball court exactly 1km from my parent's house. If I ever needed to 'get away from it all' that's where I'd go. I'd take a jog down with my ball and just go shoot free throws or something.

It's a place where I've spent alot of time since we use it for practice twice weekly. But when it's empty, and it's just me and the sound of the ball bouncing...I dunno. I think me concentrating on my form and basically just NOT thinking about what's bothering me is what gets me back on track. Gives my brain time to sort things out on its own.

And it's nice to think that somewhere in the world, someone's standing on a court shooting a free throw, just trying to get through the day.

I dive into a book. Preferably one that I've read already, they make for more relaxing reads. I have a bunch of "old friends" on the shelf that can take me away from here.

Music is about the only place I can go... it's about the only thing that shuts down the commentary that constantly runs thru my head... and gives me an escape for about 5 minutes...

Yes, that too. Harry Potter has certainly become my refuge when I can't leave the house (if it's too late at night, etc)... any good fiction works for me, really. When I was camped out for research in Africa last summer, The Kite Runner was an essential refuge from my own internal stress.

Having a good novel to read while traveling/working intensely with others is very important for my sanity (I am not an extrovert by nature).

Sometimes I drive around the 'campus' of my old high school. Since there are many windows, I get to see some of the lockers and areas I used to roam about. In addition, it is neat to see the major renovations and how things have changed. It is a comforting feeling knowing that my old high school is still churning out graduates.

I go to my car and go for a ride... With a big fat doobie...

There's a pizza place here in town that has bar-style seating right near the window. I go there, get a pint of Lagunitas Imperial Red, pick up a copy of the local hippie rag (go Eugene Weekly!), sit, and read. Though I'm in the middle of a pizza place, it's usually fairly quiet when I go (after work, 2:30ish) and empty. The staff likes to play their music loud. So I sit there, tune everything else out, read my hippie paper, sip my beer, and watch people go by on the street outside.

Sure, I'm surrounded by humanity, but I'm a million miles away.

I have two ways to get away. I I just need to get away from people, noise and all the garbage that comes with them, I go to a beaver dam that is a five mile drive and 2 mile hike from my home. I'll sit there for hours watching deer, elk, chipmunks and a ton of birds just go about there busines. I usually take my sketchbook with me and draw as well.

If I am needing to focus I go rock climbing. That is the best form of gaining mental clarity for me.

If it's nice outside, nothing beats a winding mountain road and a big fast motorcycle. Hard to worry about much of anything when you're doing 50 around a 20mph curve.

In the winter, skiing stupid steep stuff is even better.

Nothing like a bit of fear to make everyday problems seem trivial.

I'm with Redlemon. If I have a captivating book to read, I can escape anywhere. I find the best place to read is in bed, because it's cozy and warm. Reading in a quiet room as the sunlight fades, can do wonders for you.

In a similar vein, I also find attending a matinee movie in an empty theatre very relaxing.

Now just because nobody has mentioned it yet, I'd also like to put in a few kind words for the humble Bathroom. ;) It's absolutely private and everyone respects that. Whether your in there taking a bath, sitting on the toilet, or passed out on the floor, time comes to stop.

Me also for the book, but I combine it good surroundings. I'm still kind of searching for a new place. I used to hike up the dunes at the Outer Banks and take a good book with me.

i go to starbucks or i make music at star bucks.. oorrr drink and sleep

If I need to get away near sundown, I head to Montana de oro and watch the sun set it’s only a 15 minute drive from my place. I sit up on the cliffs and watch the sunset over the ocean.

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As previously stated, a good book can take me away. I also can get engrossed in a good movie...but if I feel the need to be outside, and without human contact, I'll go visit my sheep. No worries about having to make conversation. They don't care if you say something stupid, or nothing at all. As long as I fulfill their basic feed and water needs, and an occasional scratch on the head, I can stay and they just don't care. And right now, with the babies around, I'm always guaranteed at least one chuckle.

In the wind on my bike. The where just really doesn't matter as long as I am moving. Sometimes I just go visit ewesers sheep!

Loud music, good books, good games (chess to video games), quiet serene places.

That reminds me of the book "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho, have you read it? I think you'd like it.

I'm a single mom with kids so I'm not often able to spontaneously take off and be on my own. But I also take refuge A LOT in books and music....bubble baths....and my yoga classes.

find a piano and play for a few hours .... or walk down to the beach and go out on the pier to the edge ... water is the #1 soother for me .. and piano makes my mind relax.

I add in my votes for finding a good book, diving into music, even a video game, yet, there are times, none of those satisfy and I will 'center' with some meditation. It reminds me well that 'the world still spins without me'.

No, I haven't. It looks like a good book. Thank you for the suggestion. I'll get it ASAP.