Not how I picture us.
We have started to formulate the exit strategy. We euphemistically refer to it as, “The five year plan”. What are we referring to, is it when we plan to drink the kool-aid if either Hillary or Trump get elected? Nope. It is our road to retirement. Shall we be sitting on some idyllic beach somewhere? Probably not (O.K. maybe in Winter). It is how we plan to subsidize our lifestyle when we are working less. “How can they possibly work less?” I hear our bosses say. Will we be moving to some ‘adult community’ to play unlimited rounds of golf?
Nah, I like real world connections with both young and old but who knows what the future will bring? Is this an austerity plan full of deprivation and despair? I hope not. It just means we are choosing to focus our resources on more long term goals instead of short term pleasures. Consequently, we have decided to impose a moratorium on big travel trips.
Unfortunately, we are having a little difficulty defining “big travel trips”.
We both agree that the moon is definitely out.
For instance, our Summer itinerary includes our semi-annual family beach trip. This has gone on since our boys were little and now has become a tradition with our grandkids. Everyone looks forward to this laid back family time. Is this on the chopping block now? Of course not. I classify this as a small trip. I hear you saying, “Isn’t renting a beach house costly? Let alone the alcohol bill you people will run up!” That’s where the controversy ensues. Is a big trip defined by cost, distance, time or some intangible? We can’t seem to decide. The beach trip remains on the calendar in July.
Occassionally, a commitment comes up that requires us to travel. We always try to add a little diversion to a necessary trip. We plan to visit Don’s Mom down in the Orlando area. She broke her hip and has now returned home after completing her rehabilitation. Last year we spent time in Disney World while down there. Would it be considered a big trip to include a day at Universal Studios on this go around? Absolutely not! Universal Studios will see our shining faces in June.
Do we draw the line at Don’s Navy reunion? In August we are supposed to travel to Western New York and spend a week at Letchworth State Park. It’s called the “grand canyon of the east” and we will be roughing it in some pretty awesome looking cabins. I plan to take advantage of the opportunity to commune with nature and ‘the women who put up with the men from R division’, as our ladies auxiliary is known. These reservations were made before we even came up with the five year plan so this is pretty much untouchable.
Waterfalls at Letchworth State Park
A “feeler” was recently put out by one of our travel buddies from dear old China Bus #2. She is putting together a small group trip to Machu Pichu in September and wanted to know if any of us were interested in another adventure. It would be about a week long over the Labor Day holiday. I must admit that the thought of getting some of the old gang together again for an excursion was extremely appealing, however, Don will not have to worry about retiring if we jaunt away the first week in September. His boss will facilitate his permanent early retirement if he tries to weasel away from school as it’s just getting in gear.
Machu Pichu will have to wait, . . . sigh.
I think we have found our definition of “a big trip”! It is one that causes us to loose our jobs thereby eliminating the need for ‘the five year plan’.
Follow