Holy Ridiculously Spoiled, Batman

March 14-19 – Florida with Willem and kids
March 20-24 – Jamaica with Mom and sisters
March 29 – Harlem Globetrotters with Willem and kids
April 6 – Def Leppard/REO Speedwagon/Styx concert with Willem
April 12-13 – Mom’s house for Mary’s birthday, and to visit with an old friend back in town from Oregon
April 19-20 – Emily’s birthday party weekend, not sure yet if we’ll travel or have something here
May 17 – Sarah’s graduation in upstate NY
May 17-19 – Get-together in Halifax with the kids – Willem will drop us off at the airport in NY that day
May 23-25 – New York City with Willem for a Broadway show
June – EMPTY right now… bet that’ll change.
July 5-19 – Emily to summer camp
July 26-27 – Jacob’s birthday party weekend
July 26-August 21 – Mary to visit (I hope!)
August 1-15 – Willem on his Man Vacation with Mike, something sportslike and testosterone-filled
August 21-25 – Martha’s Vineyard with Gretchen, and possibly Mom and Mary
October 18-19 – Rhinebeck with Gretchen and kids

I totally agree, it’s insane and expensive and seems a bit over-the-top. I’m trying to remind myself that if I do get pregnant soon, that’ll essentially squelch any major travel plans for 2009. And if I don’t get pregnant, well, at least I’ll have some seriously amazing experiences to look forward to.

It’s the first time that I’ve written it all out like that. I’m a bit awed and lightheaded at the moment. How freaking lucky am I?

---

Since I’m already here, in Edit Mode, I may as well just say that it’s twelve hours later and I’m still a touch giddy. I knew we had scheduled in a lot of travel this year, some planned over a long period of time and others spontaneously promoted from, “Wouldn’t it be neat” to “Hey, let’s do it.” But it’s one thing to come up with ideas one at a time, and entirely another to see it all listed out like that.

There’s a whole philosophy around it, a sense of living within one’s means but using those means to squeeze a little extra adventure and variety out of life now, while I’m young enough and healthy enough to enjoy it and share it with loved ones. When I die, I’d rather leave behind some amazing memories and a tattered passport than a fat and lonely bank account and a list of what-ifs.