Metaphoric Vacation
We are just winding down two weeks of vacation. Most years this would put another cruise under our belts, but for a variety of reasons, this year we stayed home. While the current economy hasn't (thankfully) had any direct impact on us as yet, we are thinking all of our expenditures more than we have in a long time. Early this year we blocked out the past two weeks for vacation, thinking that we would watch for a really great deal on a cruise or something similar. I was conflicted as we looked at "deals", still heistant to spend much. Shortly before our time off, we had our tax appointment...going in we expected to be close to even, leaving we heard that we owed several thousand dollars for 2008 plus quarterly estimates for Q1 2009. That sealed it, we would spend our vacation near home, but that is would feel like a cruise.
Day 1- Morning in port spent hunting and gathering at local home improvement stores in preparation for the afternoon's ship-board activity, painting. We painted the kitchen (same boring color) and den (the vibrant yellow color of my car).
Day 2- "Shore excursion", Breakfast in Multnomah Village, Portland Store Fixtures, Portland Art Museum, lucnh in China Town, Powell's.
Day 3- "At Sea", yard work, pantry cleaning, general organizing, painful but great results.
Day 4- "Shore excursion", I went to the gym and then we had breakfast at the Original Pancake House, went to the Woodburn Factory Stores, played golf at the OGA course in Woodburn, and went to the tulip fields in Woodburn. Unfortunately the tulips didn't show up, and apparently still haven't.
Day 5- "At sea", more painting...
Day 6- "In port"- Glass shopping!
Day 7 - "At sea"- more cleaning and organizing
Day 8- " Shore excursion" to the gorge, visited Bonneville dam, Multnomah Falls, via the via the Old Highway, lunch in Hood River and back via Government Camp.
Day 9, "Shore excursion", breakfast at the Original Hotcake House, Bullseye Glass, OMSI including the daVinci exhibit, Portland Store Fixtures, lunch in China Town, the Chinese Garden and random shopping.
Days 10-now, more shopping, cleaning, yard work, a few meals out, a window replacement estimate and now preparing to go back to work. It has been nice to have some time off, and the progress we have made around the house is great. No suntans, but that can happen another time.