Thursday, January 05, 2023

Thursday Ramble: Making the Adventures Fit Into My Schedule


I have an idea for a grand adventure for late spring, and I can't find a long enough time block on my work calendar to do what I really want to do. Meetings, conferences, administrative duties, and I can only be gone about 10 nights, and I am needed back here. The first time I can find the time block I want (12-13 nights is July, and I don't want to travel in the summer crowd.)  The options are compromise on the adventure I had in mind, or do something different.  The current answer is wait and see.  If I wait to long I won't be able to get seats for my first choice.  

It is nice to be needed, to be critical to certain things, but it is a pain not being able to get away.  I have done short trips before.  Back in May of 1990 I did 6 nights in London, then in January of 1991 I went to Amsterdam and Paris on a 7 night trip. That spring I was talking with Scott, my construction manager about the trips, he said "I am going to wait until I can go for three or four weeks and do it right."  A few weeks later he died suddenly, 30 years old, fit as a fiddle, a major artery burst and he literally dropped dead.  I reflect back on that and remind myself, go and do, there is no guarantee of the future.  

I will worry about walking away from the income, but I look forward to having more freedom in my calendar when I retire. 

So today I am grumbling about being busy, and wondering if I should compromise my plan, or plan something different.  One thing for sure the 10 days I can be away, are blocked on my calendar and I won't let anything intrude into that time.  Getting away, and doing things I want to do is important.  

What are the alternatives?  I am trying to plan a trip to Italy. To do what I want to do I really need 12-14 days.  I can shorten or drop a part of the plan. We would like to return to Iceland, that is a shorter trip I can make that fit in a week or so. That option will depend on what offers Icelandair sends in the next 30 - 45 days.  Their spring travel deals will come out soon. Or we may do a road trip, down the east coast - driving the beach before beach season.  There is a framed family tree in Orlando I promised my brother I would pick up a five years ago.   

13 comments:

  1. I think it's a shame you can't take more than 10 days. You're right about the lesson learned from your construction manager.

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    1. I will fix this sometime this year.

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  2. It is nice to be needed at your job. Every time every job I've had people always comment they hate when I'm gone and generally I have a lot to do when I get back but luckily I have no issues taking longer periods as long as it's pre-scheduled. Italy's on my travel plan also we're still in the air of possibly fall. And Warbucks surprised me with a trip for Christmas, but that being shorter notice I only hope I can get off

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  3. I know you'll find a solution!

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  4. Even though you want to make this grand adventure happen this year, it could be a wonderful first trip to celebrate your retirement. You'll figure it out and it will be wonderful regardless of when it happens!

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    1. Italy is probably spring of 2024, unless I take an early out then it could be in the fall.

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  5. My traveling friends are in Antartica right now and will be there for 14 days. Since they tend to work while on every trip they take, I'm wondering how they are coping without any internet or phone coverage at all.
    I've been planning a two week trip for the past six months and now I'm thinking of modifying it to two shorter trips. We'll see.

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    1. I never seem to escape my office email.

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  6. Life is too short to put off the things you love.

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  7. Oh dear, look like my comment didn't go. I have been lucky enough to work jobs where I don't have an issue with getting long periods off as long as there is notice. Warbucks surprised me with another trip. I only hope I can get the dates; this is short notice.

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    1. The promotion a year ago, brought with it surprise obligations that I am told I can't delegate. Prior to this I was able to take over two weeks without an issue.

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