Decline of the Travel Empire

[c9]

leapfish and I have lately been feeling like we're not getting out much. We do live in Kitchener, so getting out is almost a mental health requirement, but at the same time getting out is a mental health danger too. Last night we went out for (a bad) dinner and bowling with a bunch of friends, so that was fun.

What we've really been a little down about is our lack of proper travel. As some of you have observed, we are addicted to airplanes. Not as bad as ironmanjt, but still. Our travel excess over the past couple years, combined with tuition and renovation, have led us to sit a bit still. Or at least, for us.

I'm a little insulated from the lack of travel due to work. My schedule featured trips to Halifax (x3), Winnipeg, and Vancouver since June. So really, I have no excuse at all.

Our next few months:

• YVR (Vancouver), 15-17 Nov, just Cam
• Doh! Added: YFC (Fredericton), 24-28 Nov, just Vinny
• SEA (Seattle), 29 Dec-1 Jan
• LAS (Las Vegas), 19-24 Feb, petele and cap_hill_latte probably joining us -- anybody else wanna come?

You probably don't see the problem, but we both look at that and see almost no travel. It's silly.

Maybe it's time to plan a party in PEI for next summer some time. You're all invited, anybody interested?

Comments

[cap-hill-latte.livejournal.com]

I completely understand. I’ve been feeling much the same way about my own situation. Even with PHX behind me and LON and multiple trips to YVR ahead of me I feel, well, grounded. I’ve been thinking a lot about taking a trip somewhere on my own next year (likely Japan or somewhere I haven’t been in Europe) but even with the extra vacation time I’ll be getting once I hit my five year anniversary at work I really don’t have the time (or cash) to travel like I want to. :-(.

[jpman.livejournal.com]

Now you go to Japan. I had a free place for you to stay, and you decide you're going now!

[cap-hill-latte.livejournal.com]

I had thought that you would be there longer. I think you should go back. :-).

[jpman.livejournal.com]

Another potential idea for when I graduate. I could make *alot* more money with this degree. My nephew has some strong objections though...

[cap-hill-latte.livejournal.com]

Well, I'd probably see you more if you lived on the Pacific Rim. :-). Tell your nephew to learn some Japanese and come visit!

[jpman.livejournal.com]

That's what I said! Sadly, his parents would never let a 10 year old fly alone for all that time... hell, my sister has never left Canada*, I'm sure she'd object to sending her son to Japan.



*I've decided our siblinghood is just a fiction because of this fact.

[primary-suspect.livejournal.com]

You want me to work on your sister? I could go visit her at work and say, "Can he go yet? Can he go yet? How about now? Now?" ;-)

[cap-hill-latte.livejournal.com]

NB: This is one of the reasons I'm going to try to get you down to Portland for a day trip while you're in town. One can only look at Seattle for so long without going a bit batty.

[leapfish.livejournal.com]

Did you get Marie-Noëlle's e-mail this morning? Apparently, they're in Costa Rica. I would've appreciated an invitation. They'd better be getting engaged or something...

[cap-hill-latte.livejournal.com]

Ooh, friends of mine are thinking about CR in the spring. I'll be sure to send you an invite if I go. :-).

[c9.livejournal.com]

No, I didn't! Why do the other Maritime Life alumni do so many sudden trips?

[jpman.livejournal.com]

LAS (Las Vegas), 19-24 Feb, petele and cap_hill_latte probably joining us -- anybody else wanna come?

I would love to, but I'll only be a few weeks into student teaching at that point. I am thinking about taking a trip to somewhere cool as a graduation present though. Costa Rica has been floated around, as have Cuba, Thailand, and Britain. Britain means a free place to stay for at least part of the time, but I've been there a bunch already. Although hiking in the highlands really appeals...

Anyhow, the point of all that is, if you guys are free around May/June, that's when I hope to go. Everyone is invited.

PEI would also work for me. Not only could I see you guys, but I have some friend there now and that would let me accomplish a few social goals at once.

[cap-hill-latte.livejournal.com]

Funny, I was just thinking about Cuba myself. I think it's fate.

[jpman.livejournal.com]

Tracy went for her brother's wedding and had an amazing time. She and her bf rented a car and drove aroudn the countryside. Her stories make me so envious. I've even considered signing up with a language school to study Spanish there.

When are you thinking about a trip to Cuba?

[cap-hill-latte.livejournal.com]

Sometime in 2006ish. Probably not if I go to Costa Rica though. Not when it will be brutally hot. Perhaps late in the year.

[jpman.livejournal.com]

Well, I can postone my trip if I knew someone else was coming...

[cap-hill-latte.livejournal.com]

"Christmas 2006: Suspects Do Cuba" does have a nice ring to it...

[jpman.livejournal.com]

That would totally rock. Especially if I decided to teach up north, because I'll need to get to somewhere warm.

[cap-hill-latte.livejournal.com]

Depending on how I budget my vacation time PEI is a good possibility. It will be a very good possibility if the Ottawa types come out as well so I can spend my Ottawa vacation budget in PEI.

I’m currently budgeting for:

-- Trip where I can see my Toronto friends.
-- Trip where I can see my Ottawa friends and the other Suspects I won’t see this year.
-- Trip to somewhere interesting.

[jpman.livejournal.com]

Maybe we can have a Xmas Suspects Ottawa reunion? Although that's probably not possible for Ben, Jackie, and Zach.

[cap-hill-latte.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure global warming will have hit the point where I would need it to be to come to Ottawa for Christmas by next year. Perhaps by xmas 2008. So long as I live in Seattle, I don't "do" winter.

[c9.livejournal.com]

Wimp.

[cap-hill-latte.livejournal.com]

Live through one winter without defrosting/deiceing/shoveling anything, suffering through an ice-related injury or talking about the windchill and you’ll be a convert too. :-).

[jpman.livejournal.com]

I have. I agree with you totally. But Ottawa is where my family is...

[c9.livejournal.com]

Xmas 2006 right?

[primary-suspect.livejournal.com]

PEI in the summer is a possibility. I have June and July off of work this summer for parental leave (unpaid) to spend time with the little guy. Johanne is getting the travel bug as well and she wants to go visit our friends in Switzerland before they move back here so if that happens (and we survive) we might not be able to go anywhere else this summer.

But if we did make it to NB this summer, we definitely wanted to go to PEI anyways so would time it for when everyone was there.

[ironmanjt.livejournal.com]

I am addicted it's true - wait til my year-end recap.

I'd LOVE to do Vegas with you guys if I'm welcome. That would be a total blast!

[c9.livejournal.com]

Current plan for LAS is something like 2 nights on the strip, and then some random road trips. We already know our Vegas tolerance (well, basically our anywhere tolerance) hovers around 48 hours.

You should use a mapping app to make a pretty little map of your travels.

[ironmanjt.livejournal.com]

Grin, my office here at home has one already.

For my MA graduation I bought a 40x60 world map, had it framed and mounted, and I stick pins in it. It's super cool!

[gregr92.livejournal.com]

Did somebody say vacation?

[c9.livejournal.com]

w00t! go vacating!

[gregr92.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to the opportunity when I am able to, I'm in dire need of a break!

[simplisticton.livejournal.com]

We're definitely in for PEI next summer, naturally, since we'll be there a couple of times or more anyway.

LV in February is a possibility, but we can't commit. So it'll be a nice surprise if we show!

[miket61.livejournal.com]

Current plans for travel:

17-20 November - Vermont (BF only)
7-11 December - Chicago

That's it for flying until we plan a trip in late March to go to New York.

I not only love flying, I have worked for two airlines. One of which is still in business, sort of.

One way I deal with the travel bug is taking car trips that are just far enough away that you can't run home, but aren't far enough away that you feel like you're taking a [cue ominous music] car trip. Last weekend I went out to the Ritz-Carlton at Reynolds Plantation, which was very peaceful and relaxing and a 90-minute drive from here.

As a cigar smoker, I'm terribly envious of the fact that Canadians can travel to Cuba.

[whobunkyboo.livejournal.com]

Would you like a dinner companion in Vancouver in November? :-)

[c9.livejournal.com]

I regret that my one dinner in town is already booked up! This is the downside to visiting for such a short period. But it's more common for me to teach five day courses, so next time!

[thespos]

Las Vegas is less than a one-hour flight from my location, and my birthday is 25 Feb... hmmm... that is a thought...

[rebelprince26.livejournal.com]

i think i am making that las vegas trip!!