Why I’m Escaping to Cape Cod: A Chronic Illness-Friendly Beach Vacation I Couldn’t Postpone

I said I was going to wait until September. I really did. But September looked at me, laughed in my face, and said, “Honey, you’ll be toast by July.” And honestly? September was right.

So now I’m booking a last-minute, guilt-free beach escape to Cape Cod in June because my brain is fried, my body is screaming, and the only thing I want more than sleep is the sound of waves that aren’t coming from a meditation app.

Here’s the backstory: I’d worked extra shifts on days I was supposed to be off (because chronic illness doesn’t pay the bills, right?), so I had a few vacation days quietly collecting dust in my HR file. Combine that with my utter exhaustion and the way my body is starting to whisper “mutiny,” and well… here we are.

Four nights. Five days. Just me, the ocean, and no responsibilities except remembering sunscreen and charging my Kindle. I found this place right on the beach with glowing reviews and not a single mention of screaming children or all-night parties, which already makes it more luxurious than any five-star resort.

I’m not even bringing my laptop. (Okay, maybe I’ll bring it to watch Netflix, but not to write—don’t get any ideas, Muse.) I’m packing light:

– Kindle Paperwhite

– Collapsible beach chair

– Inogen Rove 6 portable oxygen concentrator

– Enough SPF to survive the apocalypse

That’s it. No blog drafts, no outlining the next podcast episode, no internal guilt about being “unproductive.” Just salt air, paperback fiction, and the subtle art of doing absolutely nothing while healing a body that’s been running on fumes.

For those of us living with chronic illness, burnout isn’t a trend—it’s Tuesday. And sometimes, the best thing we can do is press pause before the crash. So I’m reclaiming my joy. In a beach chair. With a portable oxygen tank and a TBR pile that could smother a lesser mortal.

Catch me on the Cape, friends. Or don’t. I won’t be checking email.

Have you ever needed a break before the calendar said you could take one? Drop a comment and let me know your go-to escape. And hey—if you haven’t subscribed yet, do that too. I’ll send updates. Just not from the beach. 😉