The best possible time for a vacation to a tropical paradise is February.
No doubt.
You see, after the long summer, fall is a welcome respite. We're anxious for cooler, more comfortable temperatures. Warm sweaters, cozy jeans, boots...thick, fuzzy socks. An inviting fire in the hearth that beckons after getting your chill on doing chores.
And then along comes the anticipation of the holidays. The fun of Halloween, the endearing warmth and thankfulness of Thanksgiving, followed by the festive and always lively, Christmas.
Even January has its' merits. New Years Eve, and all the promise of the new year ahead of us, unfolding. The anticipation of looking ahead and making plans, resolutions...you know how it goes.
But by February; the reality of winter begins to wear thin...the cold and the damp drones on and on.
We begin to wax nostalgic for longer, warmer days. Relaxing in the sun, warming our face and sipping something cool and refreshing. Spending time outdoors, instead of by the fire.
I've done pretty well this season, so far. No real problem with my SAD. I've been busy enough not to grow weary of too much time indoors, and our weather has certainly helped. We've had more dry days than wet, we've had some brisk, cold weather that revitalizes the senses, we were even blessed with some beautiful snowfall.
But now it's raining. The pastures are flooded. The horses are muddy. You get wet every time you step foot outside. Yuck.
I haven't heard the word drought for some time now. Weeks even. The naysayers are oddly quiet. There's snow falling in the mountains. Lots of snow falling in the mountains. Eventually, every year it happens. The moisture always comes. And we make up for lost time...big time.
Don't get me wrong - I'm thankful. Really, I am.
I just feel so melancholy when it rains. I become introverted, and I think too much. I question everything and there's never any easy answers for all that weighs on my mind. *sigh*
I get the blues. That's what my mom always said. The blues...
Perfect time to get away and have a little vacation. So, I've been planning...checking out flights and tropical destinations. We're not getting any younger, so why wait?
I'd love to visit Key West. Spend a week or so just lying in the sun, hacking around on foot and taking in the sites. Kayaking, snorkeling, swimming...Margaritaville. I love Jimmy Buffet, don't you? *sigh*
My hubs wants to take a cruise. I like that idea too. I've always wanted to visit Jamaica. Swim in the beautiful, blue Caribbean, dine on whatever suits my fancy. But the rigidness of the schedules of a cruise worries me somewhat. And some ships have dress codes. What is with that? I just want to hang out in shorts or sundresses and flip flops. Shades and no make-up. That's much more to my liking.
I adore Hawaii...mmmm, that was a dream vacation for us. If we were ever to go there again, I'd pick Maui this time. Oahu is beautiful, but there's just too many people for me. Rains too much on Kuwai and Hawaii has all those volcanoes. I think Maui is just about perfect.
I'd love to go to Mexico again, just much further south and away from all those touristy destinations. A traveler can really get a lot of bang for the buck there. And it's beautiful, and very much tropical too. But, unfortunately that's not somewhere my hubs is inclined to go. He says it's dangerous. I don't agree, but that's alright. Many other choices on the menu.
Right now, I'm just in dream mode...but the flights if booked in advance, are very affordable. What a wonderful surprise a tropical vacation would be for our anniversary...this coming July, we'll be celebrating our 30th. That's a perfect reason for a romantic getaway for two, wouldn't you say?
*wink*
I'm ready to trade in my muck boots and rain coat for something a little more comfortable.
Warm sand and sunshine on my shoulders, instead of raindrops falling on my head.
Mmmmm....
I've got some dreaming to do...
