Robin Rowland - Berkshire Hathaway Home Services California Realty
At Home With Robin



Reflections of my week off the grid…..

One week ago, today I slowly started integrating back into “the real world”. I took, not only a week off work, but a week “off grid”. No social media, no texts, emails, or work phone calls. 7 days of hiking, yoga, meditation, and clean, plant-based eating. No caffeine or alcohol. There were also daily massages and pool time. On 5 of the days, the hikes were from 4 to 5.5 hours with much of the terrain uphill. It was a challenging week physically and mentally, but it was also fun, enriching and enlightening.

Reflecting on the week, two quotes come to mind, each holding their own truth:

• “In movement there is stillness.” – Lao Tzu
• “In stillness there is movement.” – Shunryu Suzuki

Here are a few other take-aways from my week off the grid:

• Keep moving. Your body will thank you and you will be surprised at how you can engage muscles you forgot you had, and you will discover untapped strength and resilience.
• It is time to start exploring the many amazing hikes in my own backyard.
• Nourishment is key – by eating nutrient-rich foods, I experienced how fulfilling and satisfying smaller portions can be.
• Ice cold coconut water after a long hot hike is pure bliss.
• When the going gets tough, keep at it, one sherpa step at a time.
• Forget the frantic hustle and bustle pace…slowing down allows our minds to expand and reach new heights of capacity.
• Systems = freedom.
• Connect with your tribe. There is nothing better than being with kind, strong, smart, and supportive friends who radiate beauty from within.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Kat and the entire @ashram team for their generous hospitality and care. To my fellow companions – Randi, Missy, Sam, Shweta, Molly, Jocelin, Tara, Liz, Stapley, Julie & Janet – your presence made this journey all the more meaningful. A special thank you also goes to the phenomenal team I work with – Janina, Cherilyn, Ursula, Marg, Kelly and Amy – for ensuring everything ran smoothly in my absence, allowing me to disconnect fully.

If you find yourself yearning for time off-grid but don’t know if you can make it happen – let’s connect. I’m happy to share how I made it happen with the hope of helping you embark on your own transformative adventure.

With sincerest gratitude and renewed vitality, Robin

P.S. The photo is from yesterday’s early morning hike on the Dragoon Gulch Trail.



The Fun Things One Finds

...when one Spring Cleans their home. Or at least attempts to. With high hopes of plowing through the whole house on Sunday, I only made it as far as our closets when I got totally sidetracked by a long forgotten bag filled with photos and mementos that was tucked in the corner. Included in the trip down memory lane were photos of a vacation to Europe about 28 years ago with a girlfiend of mine. Not only were there photos of our day at Monet's Garden, there were 2 packets of seeds I bought at the gift shop. I'm going to throw them out in my yard and see what happens. They have 2 things going against them...their age and my black thumb. But, we'll see what happens. If they grow I will call them my miracle flowers. Happy Spring!



Cheers to Cosmopolitans!

Sometimes when it is warm outside, and we have had a good week I like to mark the beginning of the weekend with a classic Cosmopolitan on the patio. It tastes refreshing, is easy to make and I love that it’s pink. If you don’t feel like making them at home, Chris at Vine 18 in Copperopolis, makes the most perfect Cosmos and it is so nice to overlook the golf course. Cheers!



Darcy's Chicken

I love working in real estate. It is fun, fast paced and extremely rewarding to help people with buying and selling their home which more often then not is also helping them during a time of meaningful transition. The stakes are high and we must be at the top of our game to make sure we are able to best serve our clients. It takes energy. Physical energy and mental energy. I try to maximize my energy by excercizing regularly, eating right and getting enough sleep. Admittedly, sometimes this is much easier said then done. Weekdays are often so hectic that cooking dinner can be a challenge. It is so easy to order take out or get frozen pizza (my fav) but that’s not too great for the waistline…or my energy level the next day. So, I’m always on the look out for meals that are easy to make AND easy to double so I can throw left overs in the freezer for another time. And, of course, they must also be tasty and healthy. This recipe was given to me by my good friend Darcy. It could not be more simple or more delish, and it checks all the boxes. We serve it over brown rice or cauliflower rice. I hope you enjoy!