I really think we should take a vacation

It began with a statement from the fiancée. “I really think we should take a vacation”.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that statement. In fact, it’s probably one of the most pleasing auditory statements one can make. And I should’ve been elated at the idea, except for three things:

1. We should be saving up for the wedding
2. We should be saving up for the honeymoon
3. Jenn does not want to plan anything other than the wedding

Does this mean we should not plan a vacation this year? No! exclaims the fiancée. We’d spend the money anyway (on a flat screen TV or a Bowflex or more paintball crap) so why not spend it on us and our ‘together time’. That’s the hook and he knows it. I concede to the idea of a vacation. Who doesn’t want a change of scenery and the opportunity to detach from real life for a few days?

Figuring out what we’re going to do becomes a monumental discussion in and of itself. Should we go on a cruise? To where? How long? What cruise line? Why do we need a balcony, Hal, that’s significantly more expensive?

Goals of the vacation are then discussed.

1. We want to be able to relax.
2. We want a nice balance of beach time and activity time. Hal and I need to feel a modicum of productivity even when on vacation.
3. We’d like to go to one place and make that home base for the duration.
4. We’d prefer to go to a place neither of us has been (or has been in a while).

A cruise seems to fit the bill. But it’s expensive.

“What about a road trip?” the fiancée suggests. To where?

Before I know it, Hal has Google Maps up on his computer screen and he’s outlining a route with his mouse that starts in NY, travels down to Washington DC, stays there for a beat, and then heads further south to Richmond, Virginia to visit (freeload on) his aunt, with an excursion to WillIAMsburg, then finally ending up ferrying over to Cape May where we drive home from the tip of the Jersey Shore. To my protesting expression, Hal points out that it’s less than 15 hours of driving in total, and we get to see lots of stuff. Almost instantly, it seems ‘our’ goals have gone to hell.

Nothing about this stone-hopping vacation sounds relaxing, especially having to plan it. Home base is a distant memory in the present possibility of three hotels over 6 days. How can one relax when colonial Williamsburg closes at five and there’s a ferry to catch to get to the cape? Sensing my lack of enthusiasm for this road trip of Hal’s (yes, I’m giving him ownership of this one), he settled for a simpler plan. Cape May for a week including possible parasailing, good eats, one hotel, surrounded by the charm of a seaside town. Much better.

“I really think we should take a vacation”. I agree.