I am excellent at anticipating events. Bart, he gets excited the night before we leave on a trip. But I’m excited from the moment we first start discussing it. I’m thrilled when we buy plane tickets. I love deciding what we’re going to do, what books I’ll take for the plane, what hotel we’ll stay in. For me, a trip is six months of anticipation, besides the three or four or five or ten days we’re gone.
This week, I’m just giddy with excitement. Last weekend we bought tickets to go to Washington D.C. and Philadelphia in September and Boston in November. On Tuesday, we booked a hotel room in San Antonio for our anniversary this month (we’re going to Sea World . . .we looked at the website and realized we should have scheduled a WEEK, rather than one paltry day. Alas). Tonight, Bart reserved a hotel four our D.C. trip. We’re also going to San Antonio for my birthday, and Las Vegas in September. There is much to be anticipating.
I just love to travel. I love to pack. I love getting on an airplane, I love staying in hotels, I love walking down unfamiliar streets. I like coming home and sleeping in my own lovely soft bed. I’m glad to be married to someone who places such a priority on traveling as well. My life, without travel, would be a little more gray.
I’m also glad that we’re not squandering this time we have without kids sitting around watching TV. I’m glad we’re getting out and doing things and going places, and seeing new things. But, when we have kids, I still plan to travel and do fantastic, wonderful things. I get so tired of people saying “enjoy this while you can. We haven’t been on vacation in five years since we had kids.” Please. My family took loads of vacations as I was growing up and they never acted like it was this horrible hard thing to travel with kids. We went to Washington D.C and every Civil War battlefield within driving distance when I was twelve. We took a 10 day camping trip in Colorado when I was nine. We went camping and hiking often when we lived in Wisconsin. Bart’s parents took varying number of kids (up to six) to Europe for months at a time. I’m sure it won’t be the cakewalk that vacation currently is but I don’t intend to let years slip by without seeing a new city just because we have children.
Anyway, now I’m anxious to book a cruise for the spring. Because cruises = happiness.
One Smart Cookie says
Boston? You’re coming to Boston? You know who lives in Boston? ME!
Kristi says
It definitely is still fun to travel with kids (er, a kid), but it is so dang expensive. Now that Gwen is 2 and we have to pay full airfare for her. . . let’s just say we are in for a little more San Antonio and a little less Boston :). I am excited for you guys though– you have some awesome places lined up! Blaine is with you on the anticipation thing! Christmas Eve is better than Christmas, right?
Gretchen says
That sounds SO fun! I miss traveling without hauling everything but the kitchen sink with you to take care of a little one. Since we didn’t get to travel much as poor starving college students before we had kids, I sure hope our health and finances allow us to live it up in retirement…
Although I am excited because lots of family is coming to us this year. It’s not as glamorous, but at least my children actually sleep this way 🙂
Good luck enjoying the anticipation!
Bethany says
Traveling with kids is fun! And I really important for your family. I will carry that tradition on with my family too.
Flying with toddlers is a different story. There are tears involved and they are not always my sons. It hurts their ears to fly, so they often scream the whole flight and it is really hard to get them to sit still for two minutes let alone three hours. I am nervous for two but up for the challenge. I will be interested to read your perspective on this in a few years.
Ginger says
We still take vacation with kids (twice a year) plus small trips but it is mostly the relax at the beach type trips instead of lots of touristy site-seeing stuff. The reason (besides money) is what we want out of vacation now (rest) changed from before kids (see new places!) So having kids does change everything but mostly you don’t mind so much.
chloe elizabeth says
Glad to hear you still plan on traveling after kids. But way to take advantage of no kiddies in the meantime. I love trips and traveling and I am so with you on the anticipation of it all.
Karen MEG says
You’ve got the right attitude – although having kids does change your life, it doesn’t mean you have to be stuck at home with them all the time! Our kids are fairly well travelled, are pretty good on planes… and they LOVE city travel (especially Manhattan and Vancouver).
In this household I’m known as the queen of travel research – so excited for your trips – have fun!
heidikins says
Oooh! I’m so with you on the traveling bit! Love it! The rush of purchasing a plane ticket far outweighs any possible buyers remorse when I get my visa statement.