A day downtown with my dad
My dad came to the city for a downtown market hosted by one of the local shops. He set up his stuff and I helped him throughout the day. It was nice just sitting around near the subway entrance and people-watching with the occasional customer popping in to look at the wares. It was supremely satisfying. I haven't had a day with my dad quite like that in a while.
When I visit home, sometimes we hang out and go do stuff but this time he was here in my city. I felt like I was able to show him why I moved here and what made it so great. Even better feeling his enthusiasm for it. He kept saying "this is such a great neighborhood". It really felt validating. All the arguing during my school years and the constant stress has now turned into a feeling of validation. We now all know that everything turned out for the better and our worst fears did not come true.
I also talked to him about urban planning things like the newly level pedestrian plaza intersection versus a regular sidewalk-road intersection. And about why the nearby park was such a successfully habitable place. I felt like he even went away learning something new from seeing these things. Another feeling of validation.
Not that I ever felt particularly intimidated by my dad before but it is nice to feel like you've taught something to someone who prides themself on knowing a lot of information. On top of that, it was simply a great day out with my dad and it was nice to spend time with him on my turf.