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Heading down the highway

Tomorrow, Jordan, my mom, and I will be heading to NC to visit my brother, his wife, and their kids. I am not a fan of being in the car for hours on end, and even less a fan of being the driver, which is what is about to happen. Fortunately, we are breaking our trip up, traveling about five hours tomorrow and stopping at a hotel (with a pool for Jordan) for the evening, before tackling three hours the next day. On the way back, I plan to do it all in a day. We'll see.

I know a lot of people love to travel. They like checking out new places or visiting their favorites again and again. Most people appreciate getting away from the everyday stuff. Forgetting about bills for a few days or weeks. Not working (or at least not going into an office). Having someone else make their food and/or clean up. Enjoying the mountains, the woods, the sites, or the beach. Sleeping in and/or staying up late. I totally get those things. But I am a worrier, a homebody, and a frugal person who really likes sleeping in her own bed and couldn't care less about adventure. I am the antonym of wanderlust!

I had a nice time at the beach last year, and I really want to go back, although I am quite sure that won't happen for a looooong time. For years, we did not take a vacation, and I was fine with that. But now that we have that great trip under our belts, it is as if I have awakened a sleeping giant.

I definitely don't consider this NC trip to be a vacation, but I am pretty sure Jordan does, which is nice. To her, when you stay at a hotel, that is a vacation. And she is right. We are going someplace else. There will be a pool. We get a nice, hot breakfast the next morning that we don't have to cook. And we will travel through a few states to see people we love and do things we don't normally.

I need to focus on those things, not the hours of driving, what this is going to cost me in gas, how much I worry about things going wrong, and trying to squeeze as much time as I can with these people, in such a short time.

I think I can do this. Wish me luck and safe travels. Hopefully, I will have a good story or two to tell when I return. But if not, boring but safe is A-OK with me.
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Comments

Sherri said…
I, too, am a worrier - though do appreciate my time off when I can get it. I plan, plan, plan, and, like you, will attempt to justify hotel stays, etc. BUT - please enjoy your self. Remind yourself that because you are frugal, nose to the grindstone, etc., you deserve this even more!
June 10, 2010 at 8:25 AM
Mel said…
HAVE A GREAT TIME! We, too, are heading out--on Monday, to Cape May for a quick trip during the only available week all summer. Risks, costs, and potential consequences be d***ed--"we're going, and we're gonna have a happy time!"

I always sort of enjoyed getting away... but have equally enjoyed getting back home. Traveling mercies to us both!
June 11, 2010 at 12:15 PM
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