We’ve been to a few theoretically warm places in the last few years.  Hawaii and the Bahamas spring to mind.  But neither of them really had truly warm water.  Like, you could go in the water for sure, but you’d better have a towel ready when you got out.  It was downright chilly in the Bahamas and none too warm in Hawaii either, honestly.  Plus, in neither place were we staying ON the water.  (We couldn’t afford waterfront in either Hawaii or the Bahamas.)  We’ve stayed right on the beach in Oregon lots of times, but I don’t think I need to tell you that the water there isn’t warm enough for swimming.  It’s been a revelation staying here at Smith Mountain Lake.  We’re staying right on the lake, and the water temperature is truly just right – not too cold and not too hot.  I wouldn’t change it one iota.

On the flip side, getting in the water twice a day with your kids is truly exhausting.  SML is deep water – by 6 feet from shore, an adult is well over their head in most places, including where we’re staying.  The shoreline is rocky, so everyone just jumps in off the dock or goes down a swim ladder into very deep water.  Therefore, even though L is a great swimmer and B is a good swimmer, we definitely keep an eye on them and have various safety rules.  S is another problem altogether.  She always wants to go in with her sisters but it’s tough being in the water over your head with a baby.  We have some kayaks here, so we usually put her in a kayak and push her around, or have her wear a life jacket and sort of hold her up while sitting on a pool noodle ourselves.  H has been working some of the time, so I’m the one getting in the water the vast majority of the time.  I am exhausted!  Good exhaustion, but wow, talk about needing a vacation from your vacation.

My brother stayed with us for the past week which was wonderful.  I haven’t been able to spend this much time with him and his family for so long.  Also, of course, tiring.  He has a 2 year old and a 4 year old, and generally speaking, either his 2 year old or my 2 year old were upset about something.  His wife is 21 weeks pregnant and such a trooper.  She was really amazing about playing with the kids and just being out in the heat.  The heat is actually not so bad except when running.  It’s been in the high 80s, up to about 90, and very, very humid.  Perfect for swimming and boating.  Not so great for outdoor exercise.

It’s been great to be in SW Virginia overall.  It feels like home, viscerally.  I miss it here, though I obviously see lots of drawbacks to SML specifically.  (For example: sub-par schools.)