Midstream
A Life Remade in 50 Swims
A memoir of jumping feet first into a new life, reclaiming long-forgotten joys, and discovering a renewed sense of self after divorce, offering a fresh vision of midlife to women who have abandoned themselves in service of others
As Kate Washington approached her 50th birthday, she was also contemplating 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,
A memoir of jumping feet first into a new life, reclaiming long-forgotten joys, and discovering a renewed sense of self after divorce, offering a fresh vision of midlife to women who have abandoned themselves in service of others
As Kate Washington approached her 50th birthday, she was also contemplating 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 American 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. Midstream makes the case for embracing joy and pleasure as a necessary act of resistance, both for individuals and for the culture at large.
- Beacon Press
- Hardcover
- July 2026
- 216 Pages
- 9780807023549
Buy the Book
$27.95
About Kate Washington
Kate Washington is the author of Already Toast and a frequent speaker about her experience as a caregiver. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Time, Huffpost, and many other publications. She lives in Sacramento. Connect with her at kawashington.com.
Praise
“[Washington] writes candidly of her anger, pain, and menopause, and she explores her identity in aging with curiosity and tenderness. Her writing flows smoothly—and often with humor, as when she notes, ‘I want to swim like I did as a kid, not like Katie Ledecky.’ In this book, Washington crafts a winning narrative of a woman reaching her prime, guided by a road map for joy. A poignant portrait of a woman stepping into her power in middle age.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“[An] openhearted memoir . . . Funny, heartbreaking, and inspirational, it’s an invigorating account that will strike a chord with readers of all ages who are looking to refresh their lives.” —Publishers Weekly
“A heartfelt, feminist memoir that tackles the messiness of divorce, coping with tweens, and the author’s inspirational journey to revive her inner joy, ‘one swim at a time.’” —Booklist
“A raw and honest look at an imploding marriage and a courageous woman making the changes she needs in her life, this book will resonate with women undergoing transformation and with those who find catharsis in water.” —Library Journal
“Ultimately empowering, Midstream is perfect for anyone at midlife asking themselves: ‘Is this all there is?’” —BookPage