We’ve had several ideas about how you can take a personal retreat. The options include writing, art, fitness, and crafts. But, there is another, less intense version that some people might like: The Perfect Retreat from Adulting.
The Firefly, little Bed and Breakfast near Atlanta, is the venue.
Perfect Escape from Adulting: Here’s how it works
You go out in the country, tune out from all of the idiocy in the world, and take no responsibility for a few days.
It’s so simple, it just might work, It’s the Bed and Breakfast Life
Arrival
You get in Friday night all stressed out from your week at work, and having fought rush hour traffic. You arrive at a pleasant farmhouse and are greeted by red chickens and a friendly dog.
After checking in, you go to town for carry-out (actually despite the Covid most of the places in town still are allowing dine-in.) It’s a three mile drive that takes three minutes, unlike Moreland Avenue where a three mile drive takes 27 minutes.
You come back and weather-permitting sit out on a picnic table, or take it back to your room, or find some other suitable spot.
Since you know the way back, you shut off your smartphone.
Bedtime
You don’t go through the ritual of reading bedtime stories. There is no “I’m Thirsty”. No “I need to brush my teeth” or “I dont want to brush my teeth.” There is no “tucking in.” unless you brought someone with you that wants to be tucked in.
This confuses you. With the extra hour of spare time you read something. Or, depending on the room, there may be most of a chick flick to get through. The perfect retreat from adulting is all about not being told what to do.
If it’s summer, you can go out on the deck and look for fireflies. It’s a bit cold in the winter, maybe you just look out over the woods.
Hey one of our rooms has a bed that swings.
Sleep
After the second shift at Pennington goes home, there is minimal traffic noise, no airplane traffic, no helicopters overhead, and no sirens.
In the summer, there are tree frogs, and little brown toads, and crickets. In the winter, there are owls.
There is a rooster that gets up at about 8:30. Your retreat from adulting is up to you.
Breakfast
Two Options: Nice farm breakfast, served at about 9, by someone other than you. Or, cocoa pebbles served in your pajamas at about 11. If you want to wear sweat pants, and a baggy T-shirt, you may. There are no papparazzi here.
Social Media Detox
We know the value of social media, and know why you use it. But, at this place, we suggest that you not do so. In fact, since you know your way into town by now, and directions are easy, you can shut it off completely.
We can take your phone away with a lecture if you feel that is part of the service. There is a mother figure around that you can rebel against, if that floats your boat.
Here is an article that proves it.
https://www.lifehack.org/483829/9-positive-benefits-of-a-social-media-detox
It may take you a couple of hours to wean away from the need to check into your brokerage account, see what is on your news feed. You do not need to make your high school friends jealous that you are taking a weekend trip to a little farmhouse. (well, we may let you do that just for sharing.) Retreating from adulting may have side benefits.
You may also end up with a TV-Free or “Chick Flick” binge watch, if that is your idea of detox.
The Scale Situation
By “scale” we mean one of those gadgets you weigh yourself on. I think there is one on the property but we are not going to shake it at you. So if you want to have an extra helping of “whipped anything” no one is going to tell you “no.”
Things to Do Nearby
Movie Set Tour
Within a short radius of of here there is a collection of former locations for very famous movies and/or TV shows. This includes the Vampire Diaries, the Cannonball Run, Jason Lives, and a few others. We can also tell you some places where some of the Netflix series are being filmed and you can visit them and be a gawker.
There are occasionally productions in progress in town.
Ghost Town Tour
There is a nice day trip that can be had driving around to a collection of deserted towns from the early 1900’s that are not populated anymore. It’s not for everybody, but you might like it.
Antique Treasure Hunt
I know this is the opposite of adulting, but if you are into this sort of thing, every little town here has an antique shop. We will tell you some of the things to look for, and you may go into some of these shops and look around.
Appetizer Hopping
You may also like to go into any of the little towns around here, and have one or two things from the menu in each of the places. Yes, we know that is driving, but driving here is not like driving in the city. You may also walk around without packing heat, because no one here is going to take anything from you.
Art Class
Oh, in the guest house, there is a big art studio, and if you are here with a posse, you may have an art class. If you feel like resurrecting your high school days and talking in class, you may. A variety of art projects and classes can be arranged.
Bike Trip
This place is right in the middle of the BRAG spring tune up event, and if you are inclined, you may take a nice bike ride. The terrain is flat, we can tell you where to go where there is no traffic, and if you need to sag, we can accommodate that too.
The Rutledge to Madison trip along the Dixie Highway is very nice even driving.
Civil War Stuff/Madison Walking Tour
It is not for everybody but there is a walking tour in town around some of the old timey houses, some of which are very nice. There is a lot of history here, thanks to Sherman sparing the town from the torch when he was here in 1865. If you are more into peace, the Laurel and Hardy museum is a nice day trip from here.
State Parks
There are several nice state parks nearby. Hard Labor Creek, about five miles away, has a golf course. Oconee has the Ritz Carlton professional level golf course and a big lake for skinny dipping if you choose. The Oconee National Forest is near by, with trails and places to be outdoors. Don’t be bored.
Chicken Watching
Just stay here and watch the chickens. We have chairs already set up for you. For about five minutes, it will be boring. But, if you are observant, you will find it really interesting. They pick on each other, there are enemies and alliances, and if the weather is good, it is very entertaining.
The perfect retreat from adulting may devolve. Go with it.
Dinner
There are options here too. We will give you directions to the Farmview Market, where some of the UGA experimentally delicious beef ends up. You may bring steaks back and use the grill.
There are a couple more places in town to try if you want to do carryout. Most of the little towns have a friendly restaurant or two and a certain kind of fun can be had. If you want a certain ogher kind of fun, we can direct you to the best place. We know every one of the little towns around here, and what there is to do.
More Sleep
Yeah, why not. By Saturday night, you might be decompressed enough to have forgotten stuff and not care.
More Breakfast
Cocoa Pebbles in your Footie Pajamas at 11.
The Perfect Retreat from Adulting: The Bottom Line
Our place is located 55 minutes away from the big Dome in Atlanta, and about an hour from the Atlanta Airport. There is no crime, minimal traffic, and a chance to deliberately step out of adult behavior for a weekend.
If you want to forget Covid, or social media, you can.
You may bring a posse if you wish, and lay around the place. We don’t care. There are fireplaces, and fire pits, and some fun and games. The Perfect Retreat from Adulting has options.
Click “Book Now” to escape from adulting.
