–by Christine Rimmer
My sister, who is very spiritual and has a couple of really cool tattoos and is also a massage therapist—as well as the director of the Sierra County Arts Council in California and a really good artist and a talented guitar-playing songwriter…
Sheesh, that was such a long sentence, I forgot where I was going. Oh, yeah. My sister loves baths. She likes to get in the tub and soak her cares away
I love baths, too. When I was a kid, one of my favorite activities was to draw a nice bubble bath, lie back and daydream–until my sister or my brother started pounding on the door, complaining that it was their bathroom, too, and why was I always in there, anyway? Then, as I grew up and got my first apartment…I still loved baths. No matter how broke I got, I could always lie back in a nice warm tub and soak my cares away.
I still look back fondly on various baths I have known. For instance, the one in our house on Tamoshanter Way in Sacramento, growing up. It was a nice roomy tub. And the bathroom was all done in pink and black. I thought it was so stylish. I could lie back in my bubble bath and admire the shiny pink and black tile and let Calgon sweep me away.
In my first apartment, the tile was brown and tan. Worked for me. It was the seventies and the cool colors were all earth tones, so brown and tan was perfect. Then there was my apartment on Clinton Street in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn (Just below the Heights, we always used to say.) That bathroom had white and black subway-style tile. I loved to soak in that tub. Next came the courtyard apartment in East Hollywood. The tile was purple with black trim. We painted the walls purple too. Like bathing inside a plum.
But then, about twenty years ago, when the DH and I moved into our first house together, the master suite had no bath. Just a shower. I almost didn’t notice that I had lost my soaking place. Life was packed, raising my kids, writing my books. The next house we lived in had a very dark bathroom, the bathtub and tub surround of fiberglass. I don’t know…it just didn’t thrill me. I kept taking showers. We moved to Oklahoma. I loved our house there, but again, no tub in the master suite.
I had just about forgotten what a nice bath was. And then we moved here. In our master bath was this…
Okay, it may seem cool. But let me tell you, that platform was two feet off the floor–with no steps. Getting up there and then getting down into that tub–you could hurt yourself. Seriously. That tub is so big that the water is cold by the time the thing is full. And the jets? They beat the crap of you. Hey. I’m from a kinder, gentler era. Just give me a nice regular tub to soak away my cares.
And guess what? I’m getting one. This is my new tub.
I love it. It’s called a slipper tub. Of the genus “soaker tub.” It is perfect.
We’ve ripped out the old tub and platform. We’re doing Brazilian Cherry for the floor (it’s an adult bathroom, so we can do wood and just be careful not to splash a lot) with tile in the shower area. By midmonth, I’ll be soaking my cares away once again. And about time, too!
So what do you do when you want to relax? A long bath? A good book? A massage? Aromatherapy? Share your secrets for de-stressing! Leave a comment here today or tomorrow. I’ll draw a winner for a recent book of mine on Thursday. Good luck, happy reading—and thanks for dropping by.
I miss being able to take long hot baths. Since I developed severe RA I can’t get down in the tub so it’s showers only for me. I see those advertisements for walk in tubs and I’m intrigued by them, I wonder how they work. My kids used to always know what to get me for birthdays, mother’s day and Christmas, bath products or candles. They still get me shower gels and candles but it isn’t the same as a nice soaking bath. Sigh, I miss them. So now to relax it’s usually a hot shower and some hot tea.
Linda, I hear those walk-in ones are great. But I’ve never seen one. I somehow picture there would be leakage issues. But then again, why make it if it doesn’t work? I’m glad you have your hot showers and tea. I love those, too!
Wow! I love your new tub. It’s stunning. May you enjoy hours and hours of bliss there.
I’m not a tub soaker, unless I’m chilled to the bone, so there would be a purpose for doing it
. Cooking relaxes me. I get regular massages. Walking with a friend is high on my list. It’s the little things!
Susan
Susan, as long as you have your decompression methods–and I know you do! Thanks on the tub. I can’t wait to use it and have been taking baths in the guest bath lately–and loving it!
Love your slipper tub, Christine! I’m excited that you’ll get to soak!:) Like you, I went through years where the master bath only had a shower. When we moved to this house, we got both a tub and a shower. I thought I would be using that tub all the time. Turns out I’d been conditioned by all that showering, so I shower far more often than I soak. Taking a bath is a true treat for me. This tub has the jets and I just love them. I even put some artificial plants around it. So wonderful. Hmmm. Maybe I’ll take a bath tomorrow. Great topic!:)
Leanne, yes! Take a bath tomorrow and thoroughly enjoy.
Thanks! I am very excited for the soaking potential. So relaxing! I know what you mean about conditioning, though. I’m pretty accustomed to the convenience of a shower. But I’m not letting that get in the way of a little R&R!
I love the tub it so old fashion i wish i had one.But i am more of a shower person.Enjoy it
Debbie, I hear you. I know a lot of shower people. Not interested in a tub in the least. Thank you, I will totally enjoy it!
This segues into my number one complaint about digital books: I can’t read my Kindle in the tub! I simply must have a paperback to read in the bubble bath. It’s my one Barbara Cartland-like affectation, perhaps, but I really do like actual fluffy white bubbles and a romance novel. I don’t want to be paranoid about getting water on a $100 electronic device.
Caro, you’re right! No kindles in the bath. I’m okay with it because I like to shut my eyes and drift anyway. But then again, some bubbles and a paperback does sound tempting….
I love that new tub! Writing and reading relaxes me the most. Doing anything, really, that can distract me from whatever is currently stressful! But I love getting lost in a good story.
Christina, thanks! Oh, and I know what you mean about a good story. I love getting swept away. I read on a kindle, but it looks like I’m going to need some paperbacks to enjoy in my new tub!
Hot bath with book. If can’t have bath always right with a good book
Alisha, I so agree. The book is the main thing! But a bath is soooo nice.
That bath is awesome! Kind of like an old clawfoot tub but with a sleeker design. I’m kinda jealous
I already fantasize about my dream tub in our dream cabin when we retire in the Smokies. *sigh* For now, though, I am deeply thankful for the tub I have… since I am a bath whore!!! There is nothing better to me than soaking my blues away, taking a mid-day bath on a cold day, sweating out a fever, or simply reading until the water turns cold and I shrivel like a raisin. Baths are the ultimate escape and cure all.
Kristine, I love the way you think! Yes on all points! I want to get back to the bath whore within. And I am! Yeah, I love that tub. I started out wanting a clawfoot, but this one just…called to me. I spent a lot of time on signaturehardware.com, just browsing for my perfect tub. And I found it!
aahhh christine you’re so lucky, i want the tub….
a good book thats what makes me so relax. im not a tub kind of girl (lol) but sometimes it’s nice to have a long long bath with books (afraid it would fall to the tub)
Rosalina, I am so grateful that I will have that tub. The bay with windows where we’re putting it? Perfect. I can look out at the wild space behind our house while I soak. I agree on the books. You have to be careful or you’ll just have soggy pulp. Can’t have that!
I LOVE the new tub! However, I was never much of a “bath” person, except when I was a kid – nowadays, I would probably fall asleep in the tub – LOL – I do love relaxing with a great book and some music – I would love to have a massage someday, though.
Felicia, thanks! And I hear you. I know a lot of shower lovers only. My husband is one. The idea of soaking is just…euuuu to him. but that’s okay. I’ll get plenty of use out of it.
I prefer to take a shower as I don’t feel that I get completely clean if I soak in my own “dirt” in a tub.
I love to con my husband into scratching my back for at least a couple of minutes. After that, I pick up and good book and read. That’s the best way to relax ever!
Connie Fischer
conniecape@aol.com
Connie, yep. My husband would completely agree with you. I solve the prob by rinsing off after. This tub has a little shower thing on the faucet you can take off and spray all over yourself. But a back scratch and a book? That would do it, too!
Hi Christine – what a fabulous looking bath! When we built our home we decided to forgo the bath int the ensuite and installed the biggest shower in the universe instead
Now I wish I’d gone a smaller shower and a lovely bath. Enjoy!
Helen, but a fabulous shower is a wonderful thing? I get the choice. Hope you have a nice guest bath to soak in???
Like Linda in the first post, I can’t get in and out the the tub anymore for a bath. Love long showers now, but if I could remodel my bathroom I would get one of those tubs Linda mentioned. Love your slipper tub it looks so cute.
Ruth, thank you! I think it’s kinda cute, too.
I would love to hear from someone who has a walk-in bath, find out how it works for them… XOXOXO!
I have several ways to relax. My favorite has always been a long soak in my tub. Because of health issues I can no longer soak in the tub. So now I get a massage every couple of weeks and read every chance I get. It’s not as good as my tub, but it will have to do.
Kimberly, I’m glad you get massages. I do think they really work. I would love to find a way to make that part of my routine… Hmm…
i love taking bubble baths but lately i have to be in the mood for them. and i sit and read…..so mostly i just read to relax
Amy, bubble baths! Yes! I’m going to have one of those in my new tub very soon. But yes. Sitting and reading is a real stress-reliever and we can do that just about anywhere.
How beautiful, Chris! I have tub envy.
I’m a bath person, too. When want to relax, that’s exactly where I retreat. Enjoy your new sanctuary!
Thanks, Nancy. The remodel has been hell, but we’re getting there. I will thoroughly enjoy it. Promise.
Yum, Chris! I love baths, haven’t treated myself to one in a while. I love reading in the bath, too, but, true, it can tend to result in a wet book…
Lilian, thinking of you. And yes, I think we need a bookstand for the bath, with a little page-turner thingy. It could really catch on. Or wait. A stand and water sleeve for the ereader. And it responds to your voice commands. “Please turn the page…” Oh, that could be good!
And the winner is…
Alisha Woods! Alisha, congrats! I have two new two-in-ones you might be interested in. My MARRIED IN HASTE with Marie Ferrerella’s HUSBANDS AND OTHER STRANGERS. Or Cynthia Thomason’s HIS MOST IMPORTANT WIN and my THE RETURN OF BOWIE BRAVO. Or if there’s another recent release of mine, you might choose that. Email me at christine@christinerimmer.com to give me your address and tell me which book you’d like.
Thanks, all. You are the best!
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