What’s New?
By now, not so much.
“No man needs a vacation
as bad as the man who has
just had one”
Elbert Hubbard
So, last night I’m sitting down with my wife. We’re trying to plan a little vacation. Nothing special or elaborate. Just three or four days away. Not much more than a two- or three-hour drive. We’re having a problem. Where to go when you’ve already been there?
If I drew a 200-mile radius circle around our starting point on a map (anyone still use a road map?)
Over the years we’ve already seen it. Probably more than once. 
So, I put a giant map of the US on the wall and gave my wife a dart. I told her wherever it lands is where we will go.
Ha! No, we won’t be spending this little vacation behind the refrigerator.
What to decide? Choices narrow down. Should we go there again? Should we take longer and head out further. Should we even consider hopping on an airplane like we have done in the past. Once upon a time, a weekend in Las Vegas or Ft. Lauderdale would have been a no-brainer. You know you’re getting older though, when you’d rather do Walmart on Black Friday than spend any time at an airport.
Tried cruises a couple of times. Not much of a thrill when 2,500 people leave the boat at the same time to hit the same stores, bars and restaurants. Assigned seating at meals? Not my cup of tea (or glass of wine).
In the past, vacations were a time when we would do things on our own schedule and still not miss anything. Things like sleeping late, skipping breakfast, avoiding the crowds. Just hanging out.
But, when you stop to think about it, if that’s all you want to do, why go anywhere? Why not just sit in a rocking chair on the front porch and gather dust?
Well, what I’ve learned over the years is that aging is a constant battle with gravity. The longer you keep active the more you can delay gravity’s effects. Inactivity is a surrender to gravity.
Ultimately, gravity will put you six feet under. Are you ready for that? I’m not!
So, I’m reconsidering vacations as other than a time to just go sightseeing. I think the final result will be that we enlarge our territory. Get away from the familiar. Check ahead to see what might be taking place. Maybe even add an extra day or two to the itinerary. See where we can participate. Could I take my wife fishing? A real activity requiring motion, instead of just looking out a window on the tour bus?
Seems like a whole new mindset. Actually, looking for something to DO, rather than just something to see. Time to start planning!
How about this one Dear? 
Yeah, I kind of thought you’d come up with something like this instead.