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Sometimes It's Better To Be Swept Along



We have been talking about taking a vacation for a long time.   Our lives have been overfilled and hectic the last few years.  We have not had a vacation in 4 years and not taken much time off.  Emotionally, spiritually, and physically it feels like time to take a break. 

Now, my idea of a great vacation is to lay around listening to the waves and reading a book.  My husband suggested a staycation which seemed to fit the relaxing idea, but I know us.  With the pace of our lives and having just moved into a new house we would be doing lots of staying and very little cationing.  So I pushed for us to get away for just a few days.

I knew we didn’t want to break the bank as it has been pretty cracked lately with the move.  I was looking for low-key, low-cost, and close.  Finally I decided on South Padre Island. It sounded relaxing and simple and pretty reasonably priced.  I called a friend who had been there recently and she gave me inside info and glowing reviews.

I did my research and narrowed down the choices of transportation, lodging, and dates.  When I gave the choices to my husband – the going got rough.  I mean one thing after another.  Here?  No here.  He didn't like my transportation plan, we changed it, he didn't like the hotel I picked, okay we can change that.  The only thing we agreed on was the date.  Two hours later I was exhausted and emotionally worn.  It felt too difficult to plan and at that point I didn't even care if I went on vacation anymore. 

Suddenly inspiration hit.  I said what about somewhere else.  There are probably specials all over where there are beaches because it is during hurricane season.  We went on Southwest and sure enough there were really cheap flights to Fort Lauderdale Florida.  And they were nonstop.  That could be interesting. 

Still, I was sure the lodging would be outrageous.  We called a friend who spends half his time in Ft. Lauderdale and he recommended a hotel with a full kitchen on the beach for less than any hotel in South Padre.  Final check was renting a car and it was less also.   We booked the trip.  We have a 5 day vacation on the beach with less travel time and less money spent than staying close to home.  Fantastic.

So spontaneous and I am not a person to do that. In fact, I was awake for a few hours last night rethinking my decision.  The swirling worries and thoughts in my head: I don't have anything to wear, I am not sure I will like the place, what if I don't get my peace and quiet?  On and on.  It is in a city, too busy, and our friend said the wonderful thing about the place we are staying is that everyone is so friendly and when you sit down you meet people from all over the world.  Of course, that is exactly what my husband thinks constitutes a perfect vacation. 

That's why it was so good to just be swept along.  All the plans fell into place.   After all the wrangling about South Padre, we were able to just agree on these plans so easily.   So, I am continuing in the flow.  I am trusting that it will work out. The room will be nice enough and quiet enough for me to just hang there when I'm peopled out.  As an added measure of self-care I am researching temples, libraries, and museums where I can go be quiet.   I believe this is just a taste of the adventures and changes in our life to come. 

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