^This title is an actual quote from me a few months ago, when Dave and I were determining if we could stay up past 8:30 and (gasp) maybe even be social twice in one 7-day period.

Ask me about my hobbies — or simply what I do for fun — and I will probably laugh nervously, deflect with the fact that I used to be a bit of a gamer… 3 children ago… and neglect to mention that I volunteer to fold laundry because I can save it till after bedtime and watch an episode of vapid reality TV while I do so (fun!).

I have a lot of thoughts about this observation, why “having fun” is disproportionately a challenge for women, and feel very understood after listening to the We Can Do Hard Things podcast titled “FUN: What the hell is it and why do we need it?” But this post is not (really) about that.

I’m on the eve of heading out of town for a few days with the girls. And because of aforementioned commentary on my wild ways, “the girls” refers to my mom, my sister, my aunt, and some favorite cousins. We have big plans that involve ordering takeout for dinner if it’s rainy, going out to dinner if it’s sunny, and ending the night with wine on the beach either way.

And then, tonight, it occurred to me: what if there’s time for extra fun?! I packed accordingly.

At the end of the day, here’s what evidently makes the cut for me on a no-commitments weekend, planning for fun:

1. A book (yes, the same one referenced here… still working on it). I know this to be an objective source of enjoyment after I blissfully consumed 5 books during my 7 day honeymoon.
2. A puzzle, large enough to take several hours, but simple enough to allow for conversation and collaboration over strict concentration.
3. My cross-stitch project bag because I am secretly a senior citizen.
4. Headphones in case I want to watch Gilmore Girls as I fall asleep.
5. My sleep mask because I insist on sleeping past 6am no matter what my internal clock says.

I guess the important point is this: I have my out-of-office message up at work, Dave is amped up with a list of activities for his dad + lads days, and whether it photographs well or not, you better believe I will be having fun this week.