Seattle Walks Need A Small Water Bottle

A small water bottle is easier to carry on a Seattle walk than the larger bottle I keep buying with good intentions.

The bottle that works is the one I can put in a tote or the side pocket of a stroller without rearranging everything else. I fill it before leaving, drink it during the walk, and refill it when I get home. That is enough for a normal loop around the neighborhood. I do not need to carry a hydration system for a walk that ends at the coffee shop.

My rule now is simple:

• use the smallest bottle that covers the planned walk
• fill it before shoes go on
• bring water even when the morning is gray
• wash it when we get home, not later

The last part is the one I kept skipping. A bottle left in the car becomes a science project surprisingly fast. A bottle that comes back into the kitchen gets washed with the rest of the day’s dishes.

Seattle weather makes it easy to think water is only a summer concern. Walking still counts as walking when the sky is overcast. The bottle is light enough that I stop debating whether to bring it.