Midstream: A Life Remade in 50 Swims

"A winning narrative...guided by a road map for joy. A poignant portrait of a woman stepping into her power in middle age."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

A memoir of jumping feet first into a new life, reclaiming long-forgotten joys, and discovering a renewed sense of self after divorce

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.

Author: Kate Washington
Publisher: Beacon Press
Published: 07/07/2026
Pages: 216
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.79lbs
Size: 8.61h x 5.61w x 1.01d
ISBN: 9780807023549


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 05/11/2026
Library Journal 06/01/2026 pg. 103
Kirkus Reviews 07/01/2026
Booklist 07/01/2026

About the Author
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.