Missing Vacation

I'd like it back. Please.
I'm bummed. Completely and totally bummed.
We're not going on our annual beach vacation this year. The reasons are many and the decision not to go this year was the right one. Except...I need that darn vacation.

I love the pre-trip excitement - the obnoxious emails counting down the days, hours and minutes until we leave, the planning gatherings, actually celebrating "Talk Like a Pirate Day" with excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead and, believe it or not, I love the organizing and preparing, the packing and even the cleaning.

Finally arriving at the beach and sucking in that cleansing breath of ocean air makes every tension vanish and seems to solve every problem. There's just something about waking up and staring out into the huge expanse of water that helps to center me. The relaxation of the week makes the other 51 weeks worthwhile. Everything is better at the beach.

Not to mention, we have more fun than I could ever explain. Our group is large, loud and obnoxious. Everyone gets along. The only problems we've ever had are caused by our sheer number. There is no such thing as a quick highway stop to use the restroom. Eating out usually stresses the wait staff and nets us a private dining room if possible. There are so many of us that we are usually able to receive a group discount. Most of us are related - those that aren't should be.

And we're all mourning vacation. It doesn't matter that we know the decision not to go was a required one. It's been proven necessary and a relief due to different changes in each of our families. We've been known to say, "I guess it is a good thing we're not going this year." Maybe it is. But none of us truly believe it is a good thing.

After all, a bad day at the beach is way better than a good day at home...