Since we both still work full-time, Mark and I have only two full days each week to "go and do" together and we try to fill those days with as much exploring and relaxing as we can. Sometimes that means we drive a bit - visiting new wineries, a brewery, or distillery and enjoy the beauty of Central Texas. There's no one at home waiting for us and no one to tag along. Sometimes we will meet my sister and BIL somewhere, but just as often its just us two.
Mark at Vista Brewing
When our kids were little, we had no money for such things, and weekends were a chance to catch up for the week on laundry, groceries, etc. So we were mostly hanging out at home, though we also went to parks, the pool, and such. When our family grew to six of us, I went on the weekend shift at work. There was no way we could have afforded daycare for four kids in the summer. Mark was the one shuttling them to scouting or swim team or bowling or karate or birthday parties on weekends. It baffles me that people take kids to breweries and wineries. With both parents drinking. Not to be judgey, but even if we'd had the money to do that, we wouldn't have.
Highlands
Sometimes weekends are a time for hanging out at Highlands, listening to all of the "quiet" from our lounge chairs, enjoying a quiet firepit at night. We might eat breakfast out at a favorite Mexican restaurant, or or work on some projects up there like the current barn build-out. But mostly we recharge. On Sunday afternoons we walk down to the swing at the far end of our drive for a view of the lake and just sit and talk about future plans. Its very bittersweet to walk back up the hill, pack up the truck, and head back to Austin. But we know that we have a cozy home to come home to, usually with a nice dinner.
And since most weekends are over in a flash - we spend them like shiny new pennies!
