Lou Ann Davis: Hello. Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Lou Ann Davis. Currently, I am employed by San Juan Regional Medical Center as a CSR in the General Surgery Clinic.

In my past lives, I have worked as both a phlebotomist and as secretary for volunteer services. I left SJRMC in 2020 to work in several different roles before coming back in July of 2025. I would like to personally thank all of you who have opened your arms to me as SJRMC family. It feels good to be home.

My topic today is one that is often talked about but rarely achieved. It is work-life balance. Think about what it really means and begin to envision how you can achieve it. A friend at work found out that my husband and I have started a business that encourages family time. We are called Old Mill Getaways, and we are located in Kirtland, New Mexico. It is a campground that encourages groups to get together.

The campsites are spacious, and there is a gazebo that is dedicated to larger groups than just a small family. The property is bordered by the San Juan River on one side and is totally a dry camping facility. We have four campsites, a glamping tent, a small RV that can be rented, and the group gazebo that is intended for larger gatherings. Our campground encourages free play and quiet time away from the hustle and bustle of your regular life. The campground is a dry camping area with no electric poles or running water . The lights are solar powered and come on when the sun goes down. There are generators that can be used if something needs to be plugged in like a crock pot or a roaster. Campfires are the best way to cook, and there are nice fire pits and free firewood found at each site. There are swings and slides and sand to be played with. There is the running water of the San Juan River to dip your toes in. There are outhouses and picnic tables. There are canopies and old cottonwood trees to provide shade. There are birds singing in the trees and deer bouncing over the fences.

To me, it is a slice of heaven, and it is eight minutes away from San Juan Regional Medical Center. Old Mill Getaways is a private space, and we want to share it with you.

Last week, we had a guy on a bicycle who was looking for a place to camp for the night. He is Italian and currently has an address in Germany. He was riding his bicycle from New York City to Los Angeles, California. When he spent the night at Eagle Nest Getaway, he was two thousand miles into his trip and had another thousand miles to go before reaching his goal of Los Angeles. It was an honor to show him how to make a s'more and a delight to watch his face as he took a bite. He was all alone, but he became one of my kids that night. I promised him that I would keep him in my prayers as he completed this trip. He was on quite the getaway, but was planning it as he went. He booked his campsite one hour before checking in.

Once you get through the combination lock on the red gate at Old Mill Getaways, your adventure is whatever you make it. We will assist you because dry camping can be a trick, but it will be what you make it.

Just think about it. You don't have to drive to Colorado to camp for the night. You don't have to fight for a pavilion at a public park. You could book a campsite and have a family dinner around a campfire. You can stay the night if you want or go home when you're done. If you want to bring a larger group together, the group gazebo is a place to do it. There was a birthday party held there over the weekend. They had tables and chairs for 50 people under that gazebo, but there was room for more. They brought their grill, and they cooked steaks, hamburgers, and hot dogs. They used the generator and plugged in the roaster that had a big batch of baked beans in it.

After dinner, they lit a fire, and they roasted marshmallows And giggles were heard throughout the campground as they put their phones and tablets down and played on the swing or built a fort in the trees. Are you picturing this? Does it sound amazing to you? Do you wish you were more in tune with nature, spending special time with the people that are important to you?

If so, I'm thinking you need to check out oldmillgetaways.com. All of our bookings are done through the website. You are learning about our business while at work, and I am writing out the script for this podcast while on personal time in my home. I suppose you can call this balance. We hope that you book a getaway today so that you can slip away from both your work and your everyday life, and we encourage you to take time to have some free play in your life with people that are important to you. Come and be together and see what magic happens.