Maybe because after eight years of trucking and never having a home, and then moving every couple of years while Jack consulted all over the country, I’m pretty much a homebody now. So, while even I have my limits as to how much I can stand being a hermit, chained to the house, I often vote for staycation over vacation. That’s not to say that we haven’t been out a bit in the past several years of living in the great American Northwest. We’ve been to Yellowstone and Seattle, and along the Columbia Gorge. I plan to see Glacier National Park this spring…maybe on our way to Alaska!!! But for the most part, I’m happy puttering in my own kitchen, sitting on my own couch, and sleeping in my own bed.
We have had some great vacations, though. Here are some highlights:
- The two Yellowstone trips. The park is very different in late September
than it is in January! Beautiful either way, but more bison that are also closer in winter, bubbling mud and fumaroles surrounded by snow, and frozen waterfalls. In September the trees had turned and blazing aspens stood out sharply on the mountainsides. We combined the September trip with family, by exiting the park at the east gate and driving across Wyoming and South Dakota to see my mom in Iowa. - San Francisco. Years ago—before San Fran lost its way—we spent a glorious week at a hotel at the Wharf. The location was perfect! The weather was perfect! The trip was… Yes, you guessed it, PERFECT! It was on that trip that I saw a man walk up to a corner café. They had pushed back the walls to allow the sidewalk tables access to the inside. He sat at a table and had breakfast and coffee while he read his paper. His sockless feet were in loafers, his shirt hung out, his hair was slightly mussed by the breeze. I wanted to be that cosmopolitan in the worst way, and sit at that café for coffee. Years later, when we lived in San Francisco, I did!
- London. We spent an unforgettable week in London many years ago, doing a lot of the touristy things. But we also found the Old Bailey and made a virtual toast to Rumpole, stumbled around town until we happened on the Globe recreation, and visited the War Rooms before they were so popular. Such a great time!
- Williamsburg, When you live in Virginia, you’re bound to have gone to Williamsburg. We have, many times. But seeing the historic, restored village is different when you’re staying in a
timeshare. You can go to the restored area when the spirit moves you, and you can relax and nap the rest of the time. 😉 There are some great restaurants in Williamsburg (and lots of good pancake houses!), so it’s a wonderful place to experience history, to golf, to explore the coast, and to recharge.
Of course, while we were on the road, driving, it was almost like having vacation times. Once, in a 10-day period we saw the San Diego zoo and Disney World in Orlando because we could take a few days on each end of our trucking trip. The best part of all of it? We were together!
Which do you prefer: staying home or going away?
Wishing you a blessed 2020. May we all find health, wealth, and happiness, one way or another!
Read the next blog in the blog hop by going here.
Dee
One Woman Only: The Good Man Series, Book 2 Jonah’s story! Can a simple mechanic rekindle with his high school love? She says no, but Jonah loves a challenge!
I’m not a big one for the idea of time travel. Don’t get me wrong, I love history and the future intrigues me. But one step wrong in the past and I might not be around for the future. Am I right? And going into the future, I might learn a few things I wish I hadn’t found out. It would be very hard to live in the moment if you knew what the next moment was going to bring. Nope. Not in favor of time travel.
through with rivers and near the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, was rife with malaria. In fact, malaria did as good a job fighting for the new country of America as the soldiers. Half of the British army had been struck down with the disease, whereas the American army, having mostly grown up in the region, had immunity. I would love to see the surrender of General Cornwallis to General Washington, and to feel the enormity of our accomplishment. A small, upstart country with a generally ragtag army of farmers, had beaten the premier nation in the world. We had beaten the King.
In current time, I’ve walked the battlements of Yorktown. I saw where the cannon were placed, where our forces and the French bombarded the British, and where the Brits fought back gallantly but without success. I could imagine the cannon fire being heard in nearby Williamsburg, and I’ve walked those streets, too. That part of Virginia is filled with history, and you can’t help but feel it as you stroll the cobblestones of Duke of Gloucester Street or stand on the battlements facing the York River.