Being single for 6 yrs (since my divorce) with nary a vacation is starting to take it's toll. Sure, I've been on business trips... and trips with my son to see my parents - but I haven't had a vacation just for me. No rest and relaxation. This is not really the fault of income (I make enough) or even of desire (I really, really want to go somewhere). The problem is that I don't have any friends of like mind.
Most of my friends are married, and so a vacation without the kids... and yet with me really isn't in their plans. I don't have a girlfriend, and date very little (again, this is more by situation/work/luck than by desire). Every year, I get spring fever and want to do something... yet every year I don't have enough leave, or I shy away from going it alone.
Depressing isn't it? But I'm determined to change this... I'm going to have to get used to being alone (I mean if I haven't found a special girl in seven years, I'm not going to), so the only excuse now is TIME. Though I get 5 weeks per year (I've been at my company for 7 years), I'm usually out sick at least 1 week, leaving 4 weeks. Also, my company doesn't allow you to acrue leave while on leave or on a holiday - which typically leaves me about 3 weeks per year... (in part because I use it almost as fast as I earn it). Since I get visitation with my son for 3 weeks this year - that blows a vacation out of the water. So, if I do go on a vacation it will most likely be a mini-vacation - which to me is something that won't require more than about 3 days of vacation time.
Several ideas have sprung to mind:
- 6 days (Fri - Wed): White Water Rafting through the Grand Canyon, with a side excursion to the Anasazi Caves
- 6 days (Fri - Wed): Honolulu, HI - for a little sunbathing, a spa visit, and to meet up with some hot twins I met while on a business trip just over a year ago (Hi, Diane! :)
- 6 days (Fri - Wed): Vegas (perhaps with my brother?)
- 6 days (Fri - Wed): Montseratt... this is a British Island in the Carribean that a coworker keeps raving about
- 9 days (Tue - Wed): Adventure tour through Mexico to all of the Ancient Mayan and Aztec Ruins
Ignore cost for a moment, and let your imagination soar! Where would you go for a mini-vacation? Would it be to some tropical island? Perhaps a Cruise? Maybe even to Egypt to see the Pyramids?
