WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2023, LET'S DIVE ON THE TITANIC

 WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2023, LET'S DIVE ON THE TITANIC

This week I'm writing about vacations, memories.

First - attitude. Do you want to get out of your "cage"? Yesterday I wrote about Leo the Lion in an old Cedar Rapids, Iowa, zoo. Leo doesn't have many options to get out of his cage. But humans do have options to get out of our cages!! Of course, we aren't in cells - but in our "boxes" in apartments or houses. Sure, we can open the door - but how do we get away? How do we experience something different? How do we create memories?  

What excites you? Do you want to go tubing on a Texas River? Do you want to ride a riverboat on the San Antonio River Walk? Do you want to take a helicopter over the Grand Canyon?

Second - "bucket list" Are there places and things you REALLY want to see before you die? Do you want to visit the Grand Canyon, Alaska, Hawaii, Yellowstone, Yosemite, New York City, London, Paris, or elsewhere? 

Third - from your bucket list - what can you afford? Can you afford the $250,000 people paid to dive on the Titanic?    

Flights to actual orbit on a rocket are more expensive, fetching more than $50 million per seat.

While I might want to dive on the Titanic or take a rocket into space, I can't afford it. Can I afford a Viking cruise on the Rhine River? (about $2,500). For Caribbean cruises, Most cruise lines charge between $400 and $4,000 (that seems to be an extensive range - do you want dinner and drinks with that? Do you want a two-person cabin on the best deck or a shared house on the worst deck?  

Going on a budget? I tent-camped at Big Bend in April. It costs $10 a night to tent camp. I brought some edibles from home (things that would be alright in the heat). I had an ice chest and ice for beverages. My total cost (including gas) was less than $300.  

Last summer, I drove to the high points in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska - and camped in a tent - I did eat a few meals in restaurants, but my expenses were low.  

Frequently, the most significant costs of a vacation are travel costs (especially for airfare) and lodging. Hotel lodging can run from under $100 a night and up.  

VACATIONS

Vacations (going to a place not to visit relatives) are more the norm. I am a senior, and my old friends have gone to Alaska, Scotland, Caribbean Cruises, London, and places around the United States.

*****

1. Plan, plan, plan

Planning for a vacation is almost as important as the actual vacation. You get to tell your friends and co-workers, "I'm going on vacation."   

Your friends will ask where you are going and what you will do. Your friends get excited for you.  

In the quiet times of your days, you can say, "Just think, in a month, I'll be at the Grand Canyon or Disneyworld." (Or wherever).  

Image your vacation - picture yourself taking a selfie with Cinderella's Castle behind you (at DisneyWorld) or with the Statue of Liberty.  

Do your research. I knew my time at Big Bend would be limited. On day one, I planned a late afternoon hike at Boquillas Canyon; day two was to Santa Elena Canyon in the morning and the Chisos Mountains in the afternoon. That evening I took a walk along the Rio Grande River.  

WHY are you going to this location? What do you plan on seeing?

If you are going to New York City, I suspect you want to see the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park; and have dinner in Chinatown or Little Italy. Will you take a ride on the subway? Will you walk across the Brooklyn Bridge? 

Vocalize it - say out loud, I'm going to see the Statue of Liberty. (This involves several body parts; your brain thinks it, your mouth says it, your ears hear it, and your brain takes it in as well!!! I'm finally going to see the Grand Canyon!!!  

Planning also affects your finances. What does dinner in Little Italy cost? Fortunately, if you have access to the Internet, you can look things up. You can find suggestions for a three-day stay in New York City (or wherever).  

Many places require reservations - showing up and saying "Hi" - might not get you into Glacier National Park or a room at Big Bend National Park.

I've been watching YouTube videos about the Grand Canyon (and I watched hours of videos about Big Bend before making my trip).  

Plan/prepare/visualize/own!!!

Mcdonald's Restaurants used the slogan "You deserve a break today." You may need to get out of your cage - out of your box - and have a vacation!!!

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

DOING A VACATION NOW MIGHT HELP YOU AVOID THE ANGST OF NOT MAKING A MEMORY LATER

VACATIONS CAN REVITALIZE YOU

KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, JULY 19, 2023