Midstream: A Life Remade in 50 Swims
Kate Washington
Jul 2026 · Beacon Press
Ebook
208
Pages
family_home
Eligible
info
infoThis book will become available on July 7, 2026. You will not be charged until it is released.
About this ebook
For women approaching midlife who have abandoned themselves in service of others, a memoir of jumping feet first into a new life, reclaiming long-forgotten joys, and discovering a renewed sense of self after divorce
As Kate Washington approached her 50th birthday, she was also ending a 23-year marriage in which she had become so focused on serving others that she’d lost her sense of self. To find herself again, she embarked on what she calls the 50 Dunks Project.
The rules: Go to 50 different bodies of water—swimming holes, hot springs, rivers, lakes, creeks, and oceans. Immerse fully, head under water. Chronicle the dunk with a picture and a post. Complete the challenge by the time she turned 50.
Largely set in Kate’s native California but taking us as far as southern France, dunking us in the waters of the Sacramento River, Lake Tenaya, Big Chico Creek, the Rive Gard, and beyond, Kate shares the highlights of her 50 Dunk challenge--including dozens of fantastic, semi-secret places to swim.
Along the way, she combines self-examination, wry humor, lyrical description, and cultural critique to illuminate the factors that so often cause women to lose themselves. Watersheds makes the case for embracing joy and pleasure as a necessary act of resistance, both for individuals and for the culture at large.
As Kate Washington approached her 50th birthday, she was also ending a 23-year marriage in which she had become so focused on serving others that she’d lost her sense of self. To find herself again, she embarked on what she calls the 50 Dunks Project.
The rules: Go to 50 different bodies of water—swimming holes, hot springs, rivers, lakes, creeks, and oceans. Immerse fully, head under water. Chronicle the dunk with a picture and a post. Complete the challenge by the time she turned 50.
Largely set in Kate’s native California but taking us as far as southern France, dunking us in the waters of the Sacramento River, Lake Tenaya, Big Chico Creek, the Rive Gard, and beyond, Kate shares the highlights of her 50 Dunk challenge--including dozens of fantastic, semi-secret places to swim.
Along the way, she combines self-examination, wry humor, lyrical description, and cultural critique to illuminate the factors that so often cause women to lose themselves. Watersheds makes the case for embracing joy and pleasure as a necessary act of resistance, both for individuals and for the culture at large.
About the author
Kate Washington's writing has appeared in many publications, including the New York Times, Time, Eater, and Catapult. A frequent speaker about her experience as a caregiver, she lives in Sacramento. Connect with her at kawashington.com.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
