Saturday, February 25, 2012

Anywhere, I Don't Care . . .

I realize I just came back from a five-day trip.  And I hate to be greedy.  But . . . I think I need a vacation.  A real vacation.  One where you don't have to make your bed.  Okay fine.  Sometimes I don't make my bed when I'm not on vacation, but I feel bad when that happens.   Or a vacation where you don't have to worry about making dinner.   Yeah, yeah - I know - there are a lot of days when I don't make dinner either, but I feel guilty about it.     Or a vacation when you don't have to pick up after yourself (or others) if you don't want to.   Don't say a word.   I need guilt-free time - - time where you don't have to think of anyone but yourself and about having fun with the people you are with.     I don't really have a dream vacation in mind.  You know, a place you've fantasized all your life about going someday - posters on the wall, an empty passport waiting to be stamped.   Some people dream of visiting the Eiffel Tower, or the Coliseum in Italy, or seeing the changing of the guards in London.   And those are all great destination places.   But I don't have my mind set on any one thing or any one place in particular.  There ARE things I'd like to do and places I'd like to see that would really make me smile, though.

First of all, I don't want or need to leave the country.  I think the United States has plenty of wonderful vacation spots and fantastic things to see right here on our own soil.   And there are so many crazy, wonderful, weird things to see off the beaten path.   Once in a while, when we map out our vacation from point A to point Z, we need to put the map aside and not be afraid to take a detour (unless you're in the heart of West Virginia - then be afraid.  Very afraid - I saw "Deliverance.").  Instead of going from A directly to Z, go to points B and F and M and Q and THEN to point Z.   And you don't even have to have a known destination - just head off in any direction until you find something fun and interesting.  You never know what wonders you will see!   The other day my sister was talking about taking a "sisters trip" to the 100 mile swap meet - - I think it starts in Kentucky.  That would be a blast.  

Second of all, I don't really want to go on a cruise.  The thought of being on a big humongous ship out in the middle of the ocean kind of leaves me feeling claustrophobic.   What if I didn't like it and wanted to leave??!  I'm not a very good swimmer.  And - I also saw "Jaws".  I think I could live without ever stepping foot on a cruise ship.

I would love to go to Disneyland . . . again.  Yes, I grew up there and went to Disney dozens of times.   And I have so many good memories of the happiest place on earth.  But now that I live in a non-Disneyland zone, I long to be a tourist, spend marathon days at the park and stay at the Disneyland Hotel (before we were married, my husband and I used to sneak into the hotel swimming pool - they have a GREAT pool - we were such rebels!).     

My husband has always wanted to go crabbing on the Oregon coast.   And, it's been a long time since I've been to San Francisco.  That might be fun.  Lombard Street.   Alcatraz - it's haunted, you know.    A ghost hunt has definitely got to be in my future at some point.   There are a ton of places in Pennsylvania that are purported to be haunted.   And, Pennsylvania is on the other side of the country, where my husband has never been.   So, we could couple the ghost hunting with a lot of other fun sight seeing ventures on the east coast.  And connect with an old friend.

See, I'm easy.  It's not going to take the Louvre or the romantic gondolas in Venice to make me happy.  Just a week or two away when we can just have fun, be together, and forget about "real" life for a while.  

Or, in other words, a vacation :) 

  

13 comments:

  1. I hear that. You know tho we have often came back from a few days of rest and relaxation and I found myself wanting to go back. : / LOL on WV although this state is very beautiful, there are areas that even I avoid. : )

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    1. I've been through WV years ago and remember it was beautiful - so I felt just a wee bit bad writing what I did - just a wee bit :)

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    2. LOL no, I live here and laugh at this state. : ) I am proud hillbilly. : ) And as mentioned, shoo there are places I don't even tread here.

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  2. Sounds wonderful .. ! Hope you get a chance to go soon.. (:

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  3. The cheapest vacation is to give yourself permission to not make the beds for a week and not feel guilty. Stock up on really easy food to zap and eat or give yourself permission to eat out for a week and not feel guilty. Simply remove your phone from the wall jack so it doesn't even ring or turn off and hide your cell phone. Don't let anyone know you are around. Sleep in, stay up late. Be a tourist in your own area. Blah blah blah. Or you could indeed come see PA and see me!

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  4. I am not interested in a cruise either. Something about being confined to a ship feels problematic with that one. Too many people at Disneyland. But Yosemite in the spring time? That would be something else. I hear you about not having to make the bed or deal with responsibilities - ahhhhhhh, very nice.

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  5. I've got the perfect vacation spot: St. Augustine, FL. It is beautiful, historic and haunted. It has amazing beaches, sacred grounds, the Fountain of Youth & lots of ghosts. Stay in one of the many bed & breakfasts - you won't have to lift a finger.

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    1. Jaime, I've actually been to St Augustine! Many years ago (pre-ghost hunting interests!). I do remember how historic and beautiful it was, though :)

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  6. I could list you a good number of arguments why you do have to leave your home, the US .. that part of the world.. why you should come to Europe and not do what all Americans who come to Europe do, but to keep it short and say it all in one word, destination : Belgium! ;-)
    have a great day and I sincerely hope you get the opportunity to go where YOU want to go very soon.

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  7. Your phoos make a good argument to visit Belgium, Anni !

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  8. The last few times we have went away when I get back I feel like I need a vacation from the vacation. Has anyone else ever felt like that b4? : /

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  9. I say get an RV and do the East Coast ghost thing :)

    I love the idea that "Rebels" can be people who sneak into a *Disneyland* Pool, of all places!

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  10. A. Drove through West Virginia on the way to and from South Carolina for my father-in-law's funeral a couple of years ago. Everything that went wrong on that trip went wrong in West Virginia, both coming and going. I mean not Deliverance level malfunctions, but...When we finally saw the "Welcome To Pennsylvania" sign on the way home, Son-Three rolled down the window and yelled, "You can suck it, West Virginia!" to the beautiful highway scenery. Not the most appropriate phrasing perhaps, but we were all pretty much in that mindset by that point.

    B. I once briefly lived in a reputedly haunted house in Pennsylvania. We had a couple of experiences that were never adequately explained. I am still deeply fascinated by the entire haunting/paranormal concept. If you go on a ghost hunting related vacation, be sure to take good notes so you can share with all of us when you return!

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