The vacation debate.
The debate on where to travel when you are in the military can be tricky for a number of reasons. Certainly, money is often a factor. Heck, most of us survive on couponing, who has the extra funds nowadays for a trip? Nonetheless, sometimes you need to get away and you just want to go somewhere new and fun and which may not be “home.”
My friend was recently posting about this subject on Facebook, where to go she asked the masses when comparing the travel costs to see family abroad or a super-fun family vacation to the land of the mouse. I can totally relate. In fact, last year, for Christmas, much to my family’s and friends’ chagrin, we did go to Anaheim in lieu of heading back east for a snow filled holiday. Don’t get me wrong, I really would have loved to do both, but this was a new experience for my children. I suppose in a way it was a bit selfish on my part too. Still, the costs for hotel and lodging in Disneyland were far less than just a simple flight for each of us back to Boston. In fact, the flights alone were more than a whole trip to Disneyland! So, I feel for my friend. The temptation to vacation and play is often more inviting than pay for a longer flight that costs more to go spend time with people you just saw or expect to live near soon.
Okay, let’s back up. I am uber-close with my family, so please don’t think I am being heartless. In fact, I miss them terribly, BUT, and that is a big huge BUT….we are likely going to retire back in New England and we know that day is faster approaching as our gray hairs that keep popping up are warning us.
On a related note, my dear friend’s husband retired from the service this year, actually he is on terminal leave right now and they have opted to move out of the United States and live a spell overseas. Heck, why not? She landed a terrific job and she is young and so are her kids. Dad is playing homemaker for a couple of years and they can come back to the states for a vacation if they want. BUT, here is that BUT again…they have decided to probably travel to Greece for a vacation instead. Why not, right? I can totally understand the rationale and, wow, what an experience!
So, my advice, weigh the pros and cons cost-wise. If it makes more since financially for your family vacation to be somewhere other than “home” this year, take that vacation anyway and make some wonderful memories. Oh, and take me too, I LOVE to travel.
Alright, back to hemming and hawing over prices I go, deciding how guilty I will likely feel after this year’s “family vacation.” Oh, shoot, where did I plant that money tree again? Maybe it’ll be one of those new-fangled staycations instead.
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