It was twenty years ago this summer that I started BioSpace. From 1985 until 2000 when I unwillingly departed as co-CEO, the only significant break I took from work during those fifteen years was to give birth to my other "two babies" -- Jessie and Niki. And now, for the past five years, we have been busy building Rugged Elegance.

Summer 2005 represented a first. For the first time since adulthood, we took six weeks off just for the fun of it...

Yes, there was a bit of guilt, but there were also no excuses.

After working all of June and July, August 2005 was our month to learn how to rollerblade, ride bikes, go canoeing, play golf, read Harry Potter 6 out loud to the girls, fall asleep in a hammock (I actually did that!), indulge in a weekly massage or acupuncture treatment, walk our dog on the beach every morning, experience a NASDAQ IPO from the front lines, catch a fish from a remote lake in Sweden, see a moose and dine on moose, explore Stockholm's Gamla Stan, and cheer on my husband as he trekked north of the Arctic Circle for eight days while I indulged in hanging out in a summer cabin with no running water or electricity. Yes, there was a sauna and an earth refrigerator for cold beer, but there was no way to tap into email or post a story.

As you know, I haven't written a single story in Rugged Elegant Living since August 4th. After three weeks of fun in the sun in Maine where I got a daily dose of guilt (only because I had my computer and access to an Internet connection), we flew to Sweden. In this cabin with no electricity, it was difficult to feel guilty. As they say, "out of sight out of mind". Why I brought my laptop with me I don't know. I didn't even have the capability to download my photos from our new Nikon D50.

Meanwhile, during Tim's eight-day trek in Sarek, Europe's "last true wilderness", he was simply focused on safely putting one foot in front of the other. When his two trekking mates, Magnus Ostberg and Dan Andersson, asked him if he thought about his family or work while he was hiking, Tim responded, "No. I'm just focused on making sure I don't fall into that freezing cold water as we cross each stream, or turn an ankle as we stomp across this rough terrain."

He did admit to thinking a lot about physics, however, to determine where it was best to cross the raging, glacier-fed streams.

Needless to say, we more than survived the summer. Somehow, our Rugged Elegance traffic has held up amazingly well. And our marketplace sales are soaring thanks to our partner, Norm.

Now, rejuvenated, refreshed and ready-to-go, I look forward to posting at least one inspirational story a day that we hope will influence at least your thinking if not your actions. In addition, Tim looks forward to identifying new "rugged elegant" products which we will make available in our marketplace.

North of the Arctic Circle in Sweden's Sarek National Park

Today, my word of inspiration is to do as the Europeans have done for so many decades. They take significant time off during the summer.

They know how to enjoy life without feeling the pressure of the work they have left behind.

They have taught us balance in life.

Dan Andersson, Tim Fredel & Magnus Ostberg back from The Land of Sarek

On the way back into the city from SFO on Tuesday night, our driver said he's been working for Virgin for seven years. During that time, he said he has rarely met an American family who takes off for the summer the way we did.

Praising us for our efforts with our children Dominic said, "I took my fourteen year-old son to British Columbia for part of the summer." Dominic is surprised that more Americans have not learned how to work hard for ten or eleven months and then escape their life at home for new adventures and perspective.

I promised him that we would try to inspire more to do so.

I think we become more fulfilled people when we break away, focus on our children and loved ones, and experience worlds that are foreign to our own.

Of course, we are grateful for these opportunities. We recognize that not everyone can create this kind of lifestyle for her or himself. Nonetheless, we hope to inspire the few that are tempted.

We are glad to have made it home, safe and sound. Never more so than this year.

There are many stories to tell: our adventure to New York for Baidu's IPO, our soulful time in Maine, "the way life should be," as well as the healthy, hearty escape to Sweden, where the way life should be - is!

Now, as we get back in the saddle, we don't hesitate for a moment to begin planning next summer's journey to Italy in anticipation of my mom's 70th birthday celebration.

The day before school started, our oldest daughter was most excited about the new National Geographic Atlas we purchased for her in preparation for fifth grade. She is already dreaming about our next far-away destination.

Yesterday, as the first day of school began for our two daughters, our youngest was asked by her teacher where she hopes to one day visit. Her answer? Rome.

With a trip to Tuscany and the World Cup already in the works, we hope we can fulfill this dream as early as next summer.

With the travel bug deeply rooted in all four of us, we look forward to serving pasta and good Italian wine for dinner tonight. After dinner, instead of dessert we will place the Atlas in the middle of the table and begin planning our Summer 2006 adventures.

Our deepest thanks to our European "family" and friends, Marie, Dan, Karin, Rune, Fridolf, Malin, Lena, Sune, Gunilla, Magnus and Peter, who have taught us the value of balance in life, the opportunity to create our own stories rather than living vicariously through others, and the treasure of time together as an extended family.

Barbara Bush once said, "At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child, a friend, or a parent." Mrs. Bush, I'm listening and heed your advice. May other Americans and over-the-top, driven human beings be inspired, as well.

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, and, in the wake of Katrina, grateful to be fully alive living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegance, LLC