A Breitenbush Birthday

David and I spent our birthday weekend at a beautiful retreat in the forest, Breitenbush Hot Springs. This place is kept alive - in many senses of the word - by a community of 50-70 members who work and live there.

The community lives in a rustic village across the river from the resort, far from the reaches of internet and cell phone towers and radio. This place is off the power grid, but a small hydroelectric dam provides electricity and geothermal wells provide an abundance of hot water. Unlike some hydroelectric dams, big things that block rivers and create reservoirs, dams that create as much power as we can squeeze out of them because we need more electricity than we could ever generate, this dam is small and unassuming, and does not disrupt the landscape:

While at Breitenbush we enjoyed a relaxing and peaceful weekend. We soaked in hot pools lined with river stones and took in the beautiful view of the river; we napped in our warm cabin; we ate delicious and wholesome vegetarian food; we hiked the trails and walked the labyrinth; we became overheated in the sauna which is heated by steam coming straight from the hottest spring. On the last day, we treated ourselves to a long massage, which ironed the last few wrinkles of stress from our bodies, and returned home feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and refreshed.

One last reminder as you travel home from the retreat:

May you carry peace in your heart always.