Finding the Silver Lining in a Black Cloud

With all the dismal news pouring out of every talking head these days, we are certainly hard pressed to find any clouds that aren’t bleak. However, if we flip this economic downturn on its head, we may be pleasantly surprised with what we do discover. Now that the exotic trip to Cancun and the family adventure to Disney World are no longer a viable option, we are remembering what “family + vacation” feels like.
Gone are the days of cramped coach seating on a domestic airline; of fighting over who is going to go where and for how long; and of pinching the pennies while envying what the person next door has. Gone are the days of greedy consumption and over-the-top opulence. Gone are the distraction, the arguing, and the needless wanting. What remains is each other and the intimate moments that we spend together, in the here and now, making those memories that last a lifetime. After all, it is the laughter and the tears that cost very little in the making but mean everything in the long run.



At the Hidden Valley, we plan family reunions all the time. The trend that we are noticing today, as a result of this new “great depression,” is that what really counts is the uninterrupted time spent together in a private setting. At the Hidden Valley, guests have exclusive use of the entire 11-acre property for the duration of their rental period. During this time, they can take long walks together; bathe in the numerous bubbling stone fountains dotting the property; or, they can gather fruit from the organic orchard and then bake grandma’s special homemade pie in the privacy of a full kitchen.
For, it is never too late to stop discounting simplicity, and to remember what life was like before all of the iPods, X-Boxes, cell phones, and social media. It is never too late to grab a guitar, gather around a blazing bonfire, and share S’mores, jingles, and more. It is never too late to rewrite the story of your family and how you connect, outside of Facebook, myspace, Twitters, and Tweets. Now is the time to reclaim your silver lining. What are you waiting for?