A New Morning Routine

How the joys of an outdoor shower bring my creative senses to life

The first time I stepped into the outdoor shower at my new home on Martha’s Vineyard, I caught the scent of soap. Not my soap, but the lemon verbena that my partner had been using out there for years. It was slightly exotic—or at least not what I was used to. Standing there, I imagined that I could also smell the flowers of early summer, cut grass, clean scents both comforting and new. The wet wood of the shower surround added a deeply earthy character. Add to that the sensation of being naked outside, in a somewhat unfamiliar place, with leafy tree branches overhead and a big blue sky beyond, the whole experience was intense, lush, and almost overwhelming.

The view from the outdoor shower can be envigorating

The initial blast of rain from the showerhead was kind of like a baptism: Now I belong here, I thought. I’m becoming one with my new surroundings, entering a new life. While temps outside stayed above 65°, the shower would remain a cherished part of my routine, reaffirming my belonging at the start of every day.

In the beginning I felt awkward about going outside to shower because people were nearby. It didn’t take long to adjust, though, because I was determined to own that space and use it for all the pleasures one can enjoy on a deck in summer. Adapting to moving around in this new space, I took special pleasure in learning where to park my towel and how to undress behind the shower door without getting wet. I was very aware that the neighbors’ dining room window faced our outdoor world, barely screened by a wall of scraggly arbor vitae.

Those unfriendly people in the big house next door wanted us to put up a fence around our tiny deck, which is nestled in the arm crook of our small house. I think they wished we would disappear so they wouldn’t have to hear the noisy children around our summer table, or smell our food cooking on the grill, or, worst of all, see our morning routines. We would not consider boxing ourselves in; couldn’t they just not watch?

Otherwise, I love the cozy proximity of neighbors in a neighborhood. It’s a positive energy field for me. I like the greetings we make as we walk by each other’s porches or pass on the sidewalk. Sadly, the people next door to us don’t seem to feel the same way. I ignore them as much as possible and give them their space, even if it makes me a little sad. I want to be comfortable on our side of the arbor vitae, living a full life, grateful to be able to shower outdoors with pretty soap under a leafy canopy while birds chirp and sing.

What a lovely way to start the day! It always puts me in a great frame of mind to write and gives me a bounce in my step as I head over to my new studio.