Laid Back Efficiency

At the life stage, I’m at, I can work remotely for a few weeks during the year, and my children are all grown up. This opened the door for a new vacation style: I could travel for a month, work 2 days a week, and take 3 as a vacation. Thus turning a 2-week vacation into 5 weeks if planned right.

I’d like to take an opportunity to share with you the highlights of my two trips to a quiet corner of the earth. Please keep in mind my thoughts are a combination of two trips, the first, I flew in, and the 2nd, I drove the 3,000 miles to Tennessee.

Vancouver, it’s lovely in the Spring and Summer. However, come November and December, it is not uncommon to rain for 40 days in a row, with the occasional flooding. I do not do well in an environment where I constantly feel like a wet cat.

DeKalb County, Tennessee, had been on my list to visit for decades. However, life hadn’t afforded me that opportunity yet. With my newfound travel freedom, I started what appears to be a yearly migration to the promised land of Tennessee.

What started as a need to quench a 30-year genealogy thirst led me to my new homeland, and after my 2nd trip, I no longer feel like a foreigner.

My travel style is not the Carleton Ritz or all-inclusive resorts, but to live as simply as possible like a local. My needs were simple, reliable internet to allow me to work a few days a week, a comfortable bed, a good shower, a way to cook food, and serenity.

My original destination last year was DeKalb County, but I couldn’t find accommodations that met my desires. They offered full houses, downtown, hot tubs, and jacuzzis, but none spoke to me as solitude or the ideal fit for Hitman, my fluffy companion. I wanted him to be able to spend some off-leash time when the work was done and frolic in the leaves.

In my research, I stumbled upon the Cunningham Cabins; they had 2 beautiful little studio setups, the Coke Cabin and the Efficiency Pond Cabin, available for the month. Even though they were a bit further from my intended research destination, they more than made up for it with the vast scenery and nearby hikes and waterfalls. I chose the efficiency cabin, as something about it was just right for me.

My previous vacation rental experience through Air BNB had been 0 for 2, both horrible experiences with beds, so I was nervous. However, the reviews stated that the beds and showers were excellent, and the owners were very responsive to my questions. I booked it and kept the picture in front of me for my countdown to research the roots of my ancestors who had lived here when Tennessee became a state.

I didn’t realize just how beautiful the grounds themselves would be; while Google can give you overview shots, there is nothing like walking along the banks of a Tennessee Creek in the fall, surrounded by the changing colours. The crinkling crunch of the leaves as Hitman runs through them, flipping over and frolicking in them with a never-ending smile on his face.

That first night I arrived late, as my flights had a few delays; I crawled into the sheets, amazed and how crisp and smooth they felt. I quickly nodded off to the sound of the crickets and the frogs in the distance.

Waking up the following day, I was caught off guard by just how great the shower is; while the hot water tank is smaller and may take a bit to warm up between 2 people, it was more than enough for me.

The cabin also had these unique little touches; I am a tea drinker, and my partner is a coffee drinker. There was a coffee grinder, with the option to use the refillable Keurig machine, or the traditional drip, along with a Kettle, strainer, and some lovely loose-leaf tea for my picky side. The hot plate and toaster oven offer ideal ways to start the morning with a toasted bagel and some sausages.

The kitchen table is the perfect size for the workstation setup I needed, quickly allowing space for the docking station, keyboard, and monitor I needed. The internet worked flawlessly, allowing me to get quickly up and running for my first remote work day there. Sitting there with the door open, listening to the birds, made the most fantastic work view.

My fluffy companion was so happy to just be able to explore the grounds with his 100-foot lead. With a solid fence between the cabin and the road above, he was given a lot of leeway in the length of his lead for the times I couldn’t keep an eye on him.

At lunchtime, instead of feeling the need to eat at your desk, you travel 10 feet to the grass outside and can wander down to the river and back. While the days may be shorter towards the end of the year, it’s also as if it slows down to a crawl. There is no need to rush or speed here, just the need to breathe and clear the head.

When evening comes, you can smell the campfire and fall crispness in the air. Both remind me it’s time to pour a glass of wine and light the fire for the evening, which I did cheat on, starting with a presto log. Grateful that they thought of wine glasses and a corkscrew, as I had forgotten to grab mine for the trip.

As the evening continues, Hitman settles in on the porch for the evening, refusing to come inside unless it involves a treat. He needs to stay alert for the possums, deer, and rabbits that are apparent threats to my safety. He bolts after the sound of unknown crunching in the leaves around us. I laugh, knowing he’ll soon hit the end of his rope.

Over the trips to Tennessee, my soul has committed itself to live here one day, where my roots run deep. One day I’ll find the perfect place to spend the winter, amid the mild temperatures and rolling green hills, exploring my ancestry in the area. An area where my heart feels at peace, and my mind becomes so lost in the richness of the culture and heritage that have existed here for several centuries.

Until then, I’ll call this Home; that’s the only way to explain the feelings of Cunningham Cabins.

We live in an amazing world where so many of us can work remotely; take the plunge to disconnect while working at Cunningham Cabins for a week or two.