How Do You Get Your Kicks?

The basement hotel.

As a thirty-something woman with two young boys, I like to get really wild and take a midday nap once or twice a week. This is one of the perks of working from home. At the moment, it feels like the only perk, because I’ve been rewatching Mad Men and feeling nostalgic for glamorous office culture. To spice things up, rather than sleep in my bedroom I like to nap in my basement guest room, which I have lovingly dubbed “the hotel.”

On days when I need a rest—whether it’s because my four-year-old crawled into bed with me after a nightmare about “breaking the log” (his way of saying “breaking the law”) or my feisty one-and-a-half-year-old woke me up by screeching, “Ma. Ma. Maaaa. Mommmyyyyyy!”—I head downstairs to the basement to “check-in.”

When I open the guest room door, I like to imagine a charming front desk where I inform the concierge that I’ve arrived for my stay. Sometimes even whispering to myself, as one does, “I’m here!” Then, I adjust the dimmer to my preferred mood lighting. Recently, I swapped out the bedside LED lamp bulb for a new one with a warm, natural hue. Then I turn on the space heater (the basement is notoriously cold) and tuck myself in.

This past week, I upped the ante by leaving some comfy clothes in the hotel to change into. Although I am not above napping in jeans. My stay is never too long, only about a half-hour. But it’s sheer bliss. Sometimes, if I’m feeling frisky, I’ll check in to write or send emails from bed. Whatever I need to feel restored.

I’ve been brainstorming ways to make it even cozier, like getting personalized stationery to leave on my nightstand, since some of my best writing ideas come to me down there. I’m thinking some superfine cardstock that reads, “The Garelick Guesthouse.” Or maybe I’ll start spraying my favorite perfume on the pillows. Currently, I love this scent called African Leather by Memo Paris. I did have some dried lavender next to the nightstand, but I kept knocking it over when my alarm would wake me up.

I never imagined adulthood would be like this. But what can I say? It’s how I get my kicks.

Make me feel less alone! What is the weirdest thing you do to get yours?

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