Decisions, decisions, decisions.....

Later this year is my 25th anniversary. YAY!!!

I know I'm really lucky to have bribed a great guy who's put up with loved me for all these years!

For awhile now, we've been back and forth about what to do to celebrate the big event. If you managed to stick with the Stark Evil Under A Blue Sky post, then you KNOW vacations don't always turn out as planned. Seriously, don't go off and read that now.... stay right here. I'll sum it up:

-Expensive vacation
-Jumper lost at sea
-Itinerary changed
-Sickness
-Despair
-Many thousands of dollars wasted
-Carnival sucks
-Never cruising AGAIN!
-Still bitter about the whole thing

So you can imagine that only a couple of years later, to be contemplating a trip has me feeling a little concerned. We do NOT vacation every year. Yes, we manage a few local day trips, nice dinners out, movies, etc. You know, just having fun in our own way. Our budget has never allowed big trips too often. But for this special occasion, we've been saving, and I've been looking into different possibilities. And I'm not even close to having this one figured out. And I say... I... because hubby knows the dictator his loving wife has to be in control of certain things so he graciously stands aside and lets me have at it.

He knows I'd love to see Europe, for awhile I was on an Italy kick. I had coins for the fountain and knew how to say Buongiorno, Per favore, and Grazie. Ah, that's not of much interest to him, but to keep me from freaking out happy, he went along with it for awhile. Our money wouldn't go very far abroad though. Then it was Florida. First it was a trip to the Keys, then I got bored with that idea and thought since we'd already been to Disney, we'd do Universal. AND since we missed out on the Dolphin Swim on the Nightmare Cruise From Hell, I knew of a place down there that has that activity and friends of ours went earlier in the month and said it was AWESOME. I really really really want to do that some day. Not necessarily this year. But we're still considering this trip.

So very recently, after telling Hub that I had posted about Switzerland and had dreamed of skiing the Matterhorn sipping hot cocoa at a Swiss chalet, he indulged me once again and said 'get some prices'. OH that loving and wonderful MAN O MINE! I did half-heartedly look into some places. Again, the prices were pretty high. I'm sure there are deals to be had for the basic trip, but then add on food, tours, etc. and Europe probably falls outside of the budget. But really, what had me more concerned about a trip like that was the air travel. It's like 7 hours to London, and then after a short layover, another 2 hours more in the air and I have issues. Serious issues. I'm not afraid to fly. I just get pretty motion sick and can't take the pressurized cabin air and all that. I can manage a flight to Florida, maybe even push it to 3 or 4 hours. Five if I took some xanax and drank some wine. OH, no wait, that's not advisable. But anything longer and I know I'd be really pushing everyone's buttons my luck. It's strange that I can do rollercoasters and certain other amusement rides, but have major trouble on cruises and planes. ??

Hubby threw in some suggestions, not for serious discussion, more like for shits and giggles because AGAIN, I am the DECIDER. Okay??? Sorta like Bushie feels only I don't actually get to f*ck up an entire country, only make my little corner of it crazy now and then.

He also mentioned driving up to New England. As much as I would like a little cool weather right NOW, I think that area would be better in the Fall when the leaves change and our trip would be a bit later than that. And we did go further north into Canada and Niagara Falls for our 20th anniversary.

He mentioned renting a nice SUV type vehicle and driving South. Possibly ending up in Florida and maybe doing the dolphin/Universal thing but with NO itinerary. Just us and the road. Hmmm.... honey, you might have something there?? I was concerned with driving down and back in the week we have. He said we'll extend it to 10 days or so. OH honey, really?? That 10 day one has me thinking. Of course the kids and pets could fend for themselves I'd really miss the family for a trip that long.

THEN....

THE OTHER DAY....

He comes home and says that he had another idea. Instead of spending ALL our money, blowing every last cent on a week away, why not just do an overnighter with a nice dinner somewhere and he buys me a REALLY PRIMO CAMERA instead of a trip. He mentions an SLR. I get all tingly. He says polarizing filter and I'm practically putty in his arms. He whispers telephoto and macro lenses and I'm just weeping in ecstasy. Then I snap back into reality and remember I have no photography skills whatsoever.

Okay, yeah, yeah, I'm always posting stuff on the blog. Yeah, and I edit that stuff half to death. Hell, I don't even know what my real hair color is. And I haven't been that weight since the stomach virus of 'o5 hit. Please.

So I told him my concerns. He said 'okay, I'll pay for a class or two as well.'

And of course we'd still go out to a nice dinner for our anniversary, maybe even see a show as well.

WOW!!!

Yep, that's my honey!!! Bitches, now just STAY BACK. I haven't been bribing him with awesome sex channeling Betty Crocker all these years for nothing.

Alrighty, so there are other things on the table too:

*We could have a small party out somewhere. We definitely have some way cool friends who'd gladly help us celebrate! There are lots of places nearby we could take a group of our besties for a night out! And my SIL mentioned a party she went to, a walking party, where they started at one restaurant in Philly for appetizers, then walked to another for dinner, then to another place for dessert. Sounded interesting. Of course in November if we're staying local I sooooo see us in a party bus or something as the weather might be an issue. I looked into stretch limos and they are not affordable, but the site said to ask about winter discounts. Hmmm??

*This looks like a blast!! Okay, except for the flying, the trekking, the hiking, the camping and the prices. Note to self: while contemplating future lives, put RICH and ATHLETIC on the short list. ;)

*We could host a big party. We do have someone in the family who might be able to get us a local hall rental. So we could go that route and invite the family and friends we don't see all that often. Sort of a mini reunion. This could be fun or turn into drama.....

*Then there's just staying home and being practical. We have an old house that always needs upkeep and eventually we'll have to completely gut the kitchen (seriously, I don't even have a dishwasher!) so maybe we should just do something small to celebrate and continue to save for when we're ready to tackle that project.

Well, here's where I ask YOUR opinions. What would you do? Any of the above sound like fun or maybe you have another suggestion. Of course I'll do my own thing anyway take everything into consideration.

Update: As of today (Monday), hub says if he gets an actual say, which I think we've already determined that he does not, he's sort of leaning towards the Florida vacay. What do you think????