Anticipation of upcoming trips

[phyllispsu]

I try to find new restaurants to try and places to visit! I'm over two group mini weekend get a ways (March and April) to the beach so my vacation in May will be here soon.

 

[bobby]

I don't mind waiting 1-2 years, often needed to snag prime Caribbean vacations. But more now, the airline schedule changes is a problem or just the flights/timing of booking. Feb. was the first time as retirees we went for 2 weeks in Caribbean instead of one, and snow issues caused us to miss the first 4 days (not always easy getting to some islands). One week after I booked an AZ flight to pick up a granddaughter, flight was rescheduled, arriving 6 hours later and only wee am other choices. This may have been due to the Boeing 700-max shuffling of planes, but I wasn't on one the those. I only have one afternoon for AZ before heading back home. Seems easier these days to rent last minute and book flights for vacations.

 

[John Cummings]

Enjoy every one of these remaining working days. When they are gone you might miss them a bit. I know I do. Goofing off can be alot of work, lol.

Bill

I agree. I have been retired for 13 years and I do miss my work. I really enjoyed it. However I do enjoy the freedom of retirement. One day is the same as another. One of the main reasons I retired was to spend time visiting family, especially the grandchildren. We don't do a lot of planning. We love it here where we live so we don't have a great desire to leave.

 

[DaveNV]

Hi there Dave (and everyone else)!

I too love to plan . . . but also just want to be away, enjoying even when it's a repeat destination.

I get through the anxiousness of the wait, but doing more (and more) planning and research about where we're going. I love to see photos and read about the trips done by others, in anticipation of my own personal experience. I also think this is why I also enjoy sharing my trips with others, in hopes of inspiring folks to consider a similar adventure.

Von, your trip reports are excellent reads. I always enjoy seeing them. And your pictures are about real things, not just postcards from the edge of wherever. If I ever want to plan trips like you've done, I know where to start my research.

Dave

 

[Luvtoride]

Enjoy every one of these remaining working days. When they are gone you might miss them a bit. I know I do. Goofing off can be alot of work, lol.

Bill

Hey Bill, I’m not sure if you’re serious or teasing those of us who haven’t yet retired. In any case I’m sure I will be ready soon (3-4 years) to find out for myself.

Dave, as for the anticipation of waiting for these long planned vacations to arrive, here is a trick that I use (as a working guy). When I’m prompted at work to change my password on my computer, I change it to an upcoming vacation place and date of departure ( along with required special characters). The passwords are usually good for several months. This way, I think about the upcoming trip when at work and it helps to remind me of the reason I work and log in each day. When the time comes to change the password again I just use the next trip info. This strategy also always reminds me how lucky we are to have vacations being such a prominent part of our lives!

We generally have our trips planned out at least 1 year in advance, including one for next April to Cuba.

Our Motto is “we are always either on vacation or planning our next one”!

Good luck, all!
Brian

 

[DaveNV]

Dave, as for the anticipation of waiting for these long planned vacations to arrive, here is a trick that I use (as a working guy). When I’m prompted at work to change my password on my computer, I change it to an upcoming vacation place and date of departure ( along with required special characters). The passwords are usually good for several months. This way, I think about the upcoming trip when at work and it helps to remind me of the reason I work and log in each day. When the time comes to change the password again I just use the next trip info. This strategy also always reminds me how lucky we are to have vacations being such a prominent part of our lives!

Brian

Brian, that is a brilliant idea! I've been using the same combination of former pet names and numbers for a long time. Maybe I need to switch it up a bit. Thanks!

I do have a Countdown app on my cell phone (called "Countdown Star", but I know there are others) where I've set a number of milestones I want to count down to. Various vacation dates, my projected retirement date, and such. Works well, and is easy to use. When I need to know how long I have til this or that event, I just click on the app. Poor solace, for sure, but at least it shows me I'm closer than I was the last time I checked.

Dave

 

[Timeshare Von]

Hey Bill, I’m not sure if you’re serious or teasing those of us who haven’t yet retired. In any case I’m sure I will be ready soon (3-4 years) to find out for myself.

Dave, as for the anticipation of waiting for these long planned vacations to arrive, here is a trick that I use (as a working guy). When I’m prompted at work to change my password on my computer, I change it to an upcoming vacation place and date of departure ( along with required special characters). The passwords are usually good for several months. This way, I think about the upcoming trip when at work and it helps to remind me of the reason I work and log in each day. When the time comes to change the password again I just use the next trip info. This strategy also always reminds me how lucky we are to have vacations being such a prominent part of our lives!

We generally have our trips planned out at least 1 year in advance, including one for next April to Cuba.

Our Motto is “we are always either on vacation or planning our next one”!

Good luck, all!
Brian

Brian . . . I love this! And yes, I plan more than a year out . . . and can live by that motto as well!

 

[Talent312]

I do have a Countdown app on my cell phone (called "Countdown Star", but I know there are others) where I've set a number of milestones I want to count down to. Various vacation dates, my projected retirement date, and such. Works well, and is easy to use. When I need to know how long I have til this or that event, I just click on the app. Poor solace, for sure, but at least it shows me I'm closer than I was the last time I checked.

I just ask Alexa.
75 days or 1784 hours until 5/30.

.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Von, your trip reports are excellent reads. I always enjoy seeing them. And your pictures are about real things, not just postcards from the edge of wherever. If I ever want to plan trips like you've done, I know where to start my research.

Dave

Thanks Dave. I really do miss being a travel "guide" (writer/photographer) for the volunteer site IgoUgo. It was a shame when Travelocity bought them . . . and then shut them down about 18 months later. Trip Advisor is so lame in comparison too. There just aren't a lot of great alternatives out there for real travel experience writing and exchange of information and ideas. Thank goodness we have TUG!

 

[DaveNV]

I just ask Alexa.
75 days or 1784 hours until 5/30.

.

Can't do that from work, but nice to know I can do it at home. Just tried it. She's a smart one

Dave

 

[DaveNV]

Thanks Dave. I really do miss being a travel "guide" (writer/photographer) for the volunteer site IgoUgo. It was a shame when Travelocity bought them . . . and then shut them down about 18 months later. Trip Advisor is so lame in comparison too. There just aren't a lot of great alternatives out there for real travel experience writing and exchange of information and ideas. Thank goodness we have TUG!

I think you need to put your reviews and ideas together into an ebook and self-publish. You put a lot of work into things. See if others agree.

Dave

 

[Timeshare Von]

I think you need to put your reviews and ideas together into an ebook and self-publish. You put a lot of work into things. See if others agree.

Dave

Funny you should suggest that Dave. I actually started to do something along those lines on Alaska. I found, however, that my information and experiences were a bit dated . . . even just 5 years later. Places change over time, especially in vacation destinations . . . restaurants, lodging, attractions & activities. I felt as though more research and editing would be required to justify the effort.

I do have much of my work in PDFs which I offer to others . . . especially through Trip Advisor.