I Need a Vacation, Oy

Monday, February 14, 2011
So I'm going to take one.

The Smart Man and I have been planning to take a cruise for some time. We were originally going to go for our tenth anniversary, but we're now approaching our thirteenth, and we're just now getting around to it. Yes, we are slow off the mark - but now we have more money saved, and can spend it doing whatever we want on our FABULOUS CRUISE VACATION.

We want to go someplace warm, someplace tropical, someplace where my job won't intrude on our blissful serenity.

So it's off to the Hawaiian Islands we'll go, for a seven day cruise on Norwegian Cruise Lines, hitting Maui, Kaui and Hawai'i, leaving in May.* We're also going to stay an extra day at the end in order to hit the appropriate sites on Oahu such as the Pearl Harbor Memorial, the U.S.S. Missouri, and the North Shore. I lived on Oahu for several years in the eighties, but the Smart Man has never been there. He's looking forward to examining the amazing military history of Oahu, in addition to us enjoying the tropical beauty of the islands together.

The only bummer: The Mauna Kea Observatory excursion conflicts with the Volcano National Park excursion. I've been to the Volcano National Park with my Hot Mom, but not to Mauna Kea. Of course, the visitor's center where we visited is now under a lava flow, so I'd be equally geeked out by either day trip. We may have to flip a coin.

So you know what this means. SHOPPING. For FABULOUS ALOHA WEAR. I've already decided to buy these new Dansko clogs for casual occasions where open toed shoes aren't practical. But I'll need to scour the stores for dinner-wear and other mandatory outfits. I believe it may be time for me to engage Stacey, personal shopper and friend of the UCF. The UCF gave me an excursion with her for my birthday a number of years ago, and I've not used it. To the Thrift Stores!

Squee!

______________
*We wanted to go earlier, but the only departures that were available when I am able to take vacation were over $2,000 more than the May departure. I'm not decimating our vacation fund for the privilege of going on vacation nine weeks earlier. I'll put on my big girl panties, suck it up for the extra nine weeks, and save the money for fabulous food, drink and excursions.

7 comments:

JstPam said...

"*We wanted to go earlier, but the only departures that were available when I am able to take vacation were over $2,000 more than the May departure. I'm not decimating our vacation fund for the privilege of going on vacation nine weeks earlier. I'll put on my big girl panties, suck it up for the extra nine weeks, and save the money for fabulous food, drink and excursions."


I think this makes you a SMART Girl!!

Stacey said...

YIPPPPEEEE.

Janiece said...

JstPam, it makes me a Smart Girl with a FABULOUS TROPICAL VACATION on my calendar.

Stacey, we'll plan our outing once Anne's back on her feet and pain-free. That extra nine weeks gives us plenty of time.

YIPPPEEE.

Anne C. said...

At last! I thought you would NEVER use that!

I'm looking forward to shopping with you two. (I'd also like to look forward to a vacation in Hawaii, but I think my savings will either go towards front yard landscaping or a new motorcycle. Hopefully both, but we'll see how the taxes and landscape planning works out.)

The Mechanicky Gal said...

Will Anne be mobile for my visit in March????
(Anne, GET GOING!!!)

Thordr said...

I spent 18 days working on the big island several years ago; I would suggest waiting till the absolute last minute before deciding. Check the weather on Mauna Kea and check the volcano observatory right before you decide, if you can do this the day of, all the better, the mountain is open, and the lava flows are quiet, go up hill. Keep in mind, when going up to Mauna Kea, there is a stop at the visitors center at 9200 feet, you may handle altitude, but not everyone will, you have to stay there for a while before they take you on up, the best way to see the lava flows actually is to take a helicopter tour and they fly you out around where it spills into the sea.

Anne C. said...

MG, I will do my utmost to be mobile by then. My guess is that I'll have cabin fever at that point and Janiece and Stacey will chastise me for trying to do too much.
As I have no prior experience for this kind of thing, I have no idea what my limits will be and what the recovery arc looks like.

I imagine the level of mobile I need to be for a mall shopping trip is much higher than for your visit. Will we be going to the science museum? Maybe I can borrow a wheel chair? That would be super cool! :)