July 13, 2015. Even though I am retired, my daily patterns fluctuate with those of my employed partner – a high school teacher. Student perspectives on summer freedom are amplified big time by teachers! And I echo them, noting each summer the subtle and not-so-subtle shifts in both outer and inner landscapes – his and mine. Stress drops, and amazing pleasures seem to turn up – as though they’d been waiting for us to notice. I attribute my increased alertness to leisurely waking after sunlight creeps into the bedroom: the best of summer’s gifts!