I’ve completed a year at my job and as a reward to myself, my plan was to have a solo trip to New York. Things change and I felt the timing wasn’t okay. It didn’t feel right after everything that happened. I knew I needed a mini retreat though. I booked a last minute weekend stay at Joshua Tree but with the family.

I found a great Airbnb that the kiddos enjoyed and it was very private and so peaceful. The moment I got there, I knew I made the right choice.

We started up the grill and started cooking. Made ourselves drinks and just enjoyed the sunset view. After cooking, we got in the jacuzzi and did a little stargazing. It was a little chilly outside but luckily it wasn’t windy. It was relaxing. Before bed, we played a little of Dominion. How I missed playing this.

The next day we went to Joshua Tree National Park. We checked out the Visitor Center first and asked a park ranger to recommend us kid-friendly hikes. She warned us that the park was busy since it was Sunday. I’m an LA girl so I was expecting some sort of traffic jam inside the park with tons of tourist. So wrong I was. Our day was just perfect. Hardly any people, easy parking, and perfect weather; not too hot and not too cold. The kiddos enjoyed the scenery and we had fun picking out rocks that looked out of the ordinary.

It’s a wonderful yet eerie feeling having a place all to yourself. I loved it. I knew I made the right decision going to the desert instead of The Big Apple. The desert was quiet and even though I could hear my thoughts so clearly, I had the time and place to process and reflect on everything that’s been going on in my life recently. I got a sense of clarity after leaving there.

We got home, cooked, and watched a little of Seinfeld, my guilty pleasure. Our last night was spend being in the jacuzzi one last time and stargazing.

I thanked our wonderful host and started the drive back home the next day. We went into town and checked out a few thrift stores. All I got was a book. I was a little disappointed I didn’t go to any comic book stores but that’s because there weren’t any around. No biggie.

Apparently there were more people in Joshua Tree because of an event called King of The Hammers. I thought the town was so chill though.

The trip was much needed. Our family reconnected. It’s not what it’s use to be but we’re working on it. I left town feeling so relieved and at peace. I’m already planning for the next getaway.