The most delightful and unexpected outcome of our follow the sun experiment is that the sunlight imposes structure on our days. Liz and I would never have chosen to read during dinner and then walk and talk after sunset before this experiment. But the limitations imposed by sunset created the conditions where it is now justified to do this. The structure of our days forces us out of what had been the default into something else: a new opportunity to make an intentional choice about what we do with our time.
How long do we intend to keep on doing this? Probably for the next month at least. Then August will come and shatter this structure with some family beach time. Family time is well worth it, I think.
How could we continue this into the winter? I am thinking that we can keep the summer sun schedule. Awake at 0600. Lights out at 845p. Make up the shorter days with artificial lights until lights out. Could be good.
Photo Credit: Sunrise by Tim RT | Flickr