Anywhere But Here.

In case you haven’t heard, this month Yeah Write is hosting a summer series “31 Days to Build a Better Blog.” 31 topics, 31 days, every day in July. I’m following along and will hopefully post along daily to practice skills.

 

Day 2: Write a List Post

Vacation:  It’s all I’ve ever wanted.  Vacation:  I have to get away.

No seriously, if I don’t get the h-e-double-hockey-sticks out of here soon, I’m going to lose my mind. I need a few days during which I do not have the responsibilities of work or running a household.  I need someone else to make my bed for me.

For the last three years, we’ve gone to the San Diego area of California.  I love it there.  I want to retire there and, if everything goes according to my fantasy, I’ll retire before I’m 40.

But this year we aren’t going there.  I am disappointed because, even as a lifelong NJ resident, you cannot convince me that the Jersey Shore is better than Carlsbad, CA.  You just can’t.  Don’t try.

There are a few things, though, that are making this year’s vacation just a little bit better.

1.  3 hour drive as a family, not 6 hour flight with just me and Nathan.

Usually Kris flies out to California the week before us for work, so I make the trip out alone with Nathan.  He’s a good flier, but 6 hours in one seat, preceded by a stint in an airport makes anyone a bit restless.  Six year olds, by nature, are pretty restless on a good day, so my patience is shot by the time we arrive  at our destination.  And the flight home, when everyone is worn out from fun yet still not wanting to go home, is no prize either.

2.  No jet lag.

Have you ever had jet lag?  It sucks.  We are a family full of sleep issues.  Nathan is an early riser – between 5 and 6 most days – so a three hour time difference is torture.  Unless you like being up at 3am for the day.  I don’t.

3.  Boardwalk food.

When we go to California, there are two things I really want to eat.  First is dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant, Norte, in Carlsbad.  The other are the fried apples at Legoland.  But on the boardwalk in Wildwood, there are many treats to partake of.  You can get anything fried:  Oreos, candy bars, plain old blobs of dough.  You cannot beat a sausage, peppers and onions sandwich from one of the sketchy eateries.  Kohr Bros. ice cream, Polish water ice and Curly’s fries are all regular things that happen to be extra delicious.

4.  I can pack more crap.

Because of the fact that I fly out without my husband, I have to limit what I bring. It’s really hard to carry tons of stuff and keep an eye on a kid who won’t carry anything.  This year, I’ll just pack up the car and then we only have to lug it from the car to our room, not through two airports, on shuttles, in rental cars, and a variety of hotels.

5.  I won’t be as sad to come home.

The last day in California I am so sad I can barely stand it.  If I had known last year that I wouldn’t be back this year, I think it could have killed me.  I will be sad to see vacation end.  The truth is though that I could really go to Wildwood anytime I wanted.  I’m happy to be anywhere that isn’t my home, where someone else cleans, and where I have an excuse to eat out more than I should.

So while this isn’t my dream vacation, I’m just thankful I will be somewhere, anywhere, but here, for a few days.

43 thoughts on “Anywhere But Here.

  1. 50Peach

    Oh, I have indulged in the Wildwood fried Oreos and sausage/pepper sammies. No regrets there. 🙂 But I do agree, it just doesn’t compare to Cali.

  2. Kerstin @ Auer Life

    I remember your tweets from California last year! You sure do love it there. Even more impressive that you found so many positive things about this year’s vacation! (and I’m sure it’s gonna be great – no jet lag is a total winner)

  3. Stacie

    You are preaching to the long-ago converted (wait, I was born that way, not converted!). Here’s to the day we are both retired in CA!

  4. closefamilies

    Never been to the west coast OR the NE coast… But we did go to Legoland in FL this year and it was the time of my son’s life, and therefore the time of ours as well. Also, I’m sold on anything fried. My gut my disagree, but that sounds like heaven on a boardwalk!

    1. Michelle Longo

      I haven’t been to the one in FL, but I’ve heard it’s great. My stomach and I will have a few disagreements while I’m away, but it will be worth it!

    1. Michelle Longo

      I read that post. I think it’s one I commented on but the comment got caught in spam (which is happening all over the place). I love Carlsbad, such a cool place.

  5. Mamarific

    Yes, yes, yes! I’ll take vacation in any form I can get it! We live in Houston and usually just go to Galveston for our vacation, which is only an hour away. Not super glamorous, but very convenient. And like you said, not too sad to leave.

    1. Michelle Longo

      Convenience really isn’t something to turn one’s nose up at. Especially when this one is coming off an super insane year. Convenience is priceless.

  6. Marcy

    Sorry you won’t get to take your first choice of trip, but you made great points for making the most of the change. Jet lag, ugh, the pits. I went to Asia once, and it was fantastic, but the flight and jet lag were torture. I don’t know whether I would choose to do it again. (At least without a big rest in Hawaii, or something like that.) 🙂 I can dream.

  7. cynk

    I love what you did with today’s challenge. I also like that you were able to find things that will make your vacation enjoyable, even if you’re disappointed about the location.

  8. Erica M

    You didn’t want to add this to the challenge grid? It tells a good story and it’s the rare week you get to post something other than a traditional narrative structure.

    31dbbb is cannibalizing the challenge grid and I am weirdly coming to terms with it, but we shouldn’t neglect it entirely 🙂

  9. uluwale

    I like how you looked at the positive side, even if you are disappointed at not being able to go to California. I have to learn how to do this myself to help me appreciate the things I do have! Thanks!

    1. Michelle Longo

      I’m not a silver-lining kind of girl and looking on the bright side is not something that comes naturally for me. I’m thinking I might try to make a habit of it though.

    1. Michelle Longo

      I live very close to New York City, which is an amazing place to visit if you ever get the chance. The beaches near my home are nice, but I do prefer the West Coast. I hope you get to visit here some day!

  10. Blogging Bibliophile

    California is a special place. One of my best friends moved to San Diego and she’s sooo happy, and I’m sooo jealous. I hope you have a wonderful vacation anyway. You deserve it!

    1. Michelle Longo

      Thanks so much! I think the weather out there is just so amazing most of the time, how could you not be happy? And since I live in an area with a high cost of living, I’m counting on that as a way to not feel the shock of the high COL in San Diego. I might be wrong, but I’m totally willing to take the risk.

  11. SouthMainMuse

    Enjoy your vacay. And I know what you mean in packing for a car trip verses flying. I hadn’t flown in a while and when I went this spring and had to pay for my luggage. Oy vey. I knew they charged buy not how much. I’m not efficient enough to pack for air travel. And my son and I didn’t stop for the fried apples on our trip to Legoland Florida. And now I am hearing about them everywhere. Pooh. I’m kicking myself. Have fun Michelle.

    1. Michelle Longo

      The fried apples are so good! You have to get them if you ever have the chance again.

      I’m a pretty efficient packer when I need to be, but I stress about it. I am looking forward to stressing less about it this year. That would be nice!

  12. Linda Roy

    Have a fantastic vacation “down the shore” Michelle! Nothing like the sausage and peppers. Mmm mmm. Thanks for the heads up on the fried apples. We’re going to Lego Land Florida so we’ll have to try them.

    1. Michelle Longo

      It drives my husband crazy when I say “down the shore” but it’s so hard not to when that’s what everyone says. Just to annoy him, I intend to put out a FB status that we are headed DTS, which annoys him even more 🙂

      enjoy FL!!

  13. parrothdnj

    Sometimes it’s just good to get away, wherever that might be. I just learned the joys of the San Diego area a couple years ago, so I completely understand. My husband and I also had the fantasy of moving out there too. But I love that you found the positives in your vacation this year. Enjoy!

    1. Michelle Longo

      Thanks! Getting away from the house for a few days is definitely essential to my sanity. It’s true that it doesn’t entirely matter where I go.

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