It's been a long time since I took off for the mountains to sit and think. But it does my soul good to do that. So today, I packed my lunch, my lawnchair, my backpack, and my dog into the car and headed north.
My sacred space functions as a chapel, a studio, a library, a lounge, a dog park, a swimming hole....but most of all it functions as a place where I can get. some. space. from my life and think. Something about running water and dappled light and earthy forest smells are good for me. This is what it looks like:

Here's how to get there: Leave my house and drive 1 hour.
You'll see this before you get there:

When you get to the park that's named for one of my ancestors, you'll pay your $2 entrance fee, park your car, and hike for 30 minutes.
You cross this:

You might spot this:

You might even encounter one of these along the way:

Keep walking until you find the sign that points left. Ignore it.
Once you find my spot, you'll likely remember that bear sightings are on the rise, especially if your companion dog keeps assuming watchdog stance and barking at (seemingly) nothing.

Set your cellphone's speed dial to 911 (you might be lucky enough to have a signal here!), Ziploc your peanut butter sandwich so the bear won't smell you, and decide what to grab in case she chases you. I don't want you bringing bears to my sacred space.