Slow Time

I keep thinking about the second straight day of rain in Lituya Bay, my e-reader smashed, my phone low on charge, solar panel not helpful in the gray. Nothing to do and nowhere to go.

At home, downtime is laced with guilt. I can read in the sunshine, but I could also put in more hours for work. I could be making dinner, cleaning, researching house renovations. I could go for a walk, listen (usually 2–3x speed) to one of my audiobooks. I could…