This weekend was proof that you don’t have to spend a thousand bucks or drive halfway across the country to have a good time.

Friday was dedicated to doing absolutely jack shit. No errands. No projects. No pretending I was going to “be productive.” The internet keeps trying to convince us every second of our lives has to be optimized. Screw that. I sat around, relaxed, and somehow the Earth kept spinning. Weird.

Saturday we hit the Shadyside 250th Anniversary Festival and then made our way to the St. Michael’s Festival in Wheeling. Two festivals in one day. That’s about my social limit before I start looking for the nearest exit. It was worth it though. Good food, good people, and no influencer trying to explain why a $14 lemonade is a “life-changing experience.” It’s a damn lemonade. Calm down.

Sunday was exactly how Sundays should work. I cut the grass before the yard started looking like it was auditioning for Jurassic Park, played with the dogs, and spent the rest of the day relaxing. No drama. No bullshit. Just peace and quiet. Honestly, the dogs have less emotional baggage than most people I run into during the week.

The older I get, the less I give a damn about chasing excitement every weekend. Been there. Done that. Give me a couple local festivals, a yard that doesn’t look abandoned, dogs that are thrilled because I threw a ball five times instead of four, and a couch waiting for me when it’s over. That’s a solid weekend. Monday can still piss off, but at least I wasn’t exhausted before it even got here.