Staycation 2008

Finally! They have created a name for how average folks spend their time off. I have to chuckle because Dave and I seem to be on the go a lot, but we're rarely far from home. We may be in Sonora, San Francisco, Truckee, Reno, maybe Las Vegas or Anaheim, and anyone I know would consider these trips vacations. I think the people who live in higher income brackets tend to really vacation, like in the form of a week or more at a time, getting on an airplane, needing a passport, and plenty of spending money along the way. Ironically, Dave and I both took real vacations this year, but still find so much joy in our little jaunts near home.

On Wednesday, Dave had to leave for Millbrae for a retention seminar. Since Mason is between preschool and kindergarten, we decided to tag along. For Mason, the hotel is the vacation! When I told him we were going with Dave, he immediately got excited, "Ma-ma, ma-ma, are we going to stay in a hotel?"

I nodded.

"Will the hotel have movies on the TV?" he went on.

"Yep." I replied.

"Will there be a bath tub in the bathroom?" He looked at me with big hopeful eyes.

"Ah, yeah..." That one was odd, we have two bath tubs at home.

"Yay!" he danced around the kitchen into the living room. "A bath tub! A bath tub!"

Whatever! I thought.

"Ma-ma, ma-ma, will there be a swimming pool at the hotel?" Mason continued.

"Yes." I answered.

"A bath tub and a swimming pool! Hooray! I love you ma-ma!" Mason crooned as he wrapped himself around my legs and squeezed and kissed with all his might. Yes, he kissed my legs. After all, why wouldn't he? We're treating him to a bath tub and a swimming pool!

We made good use of both watering holes, but the best part for me was taking Mason on his first train. We made arrangements to take BART to Concord where we met Mary and Diana for lunch. After we ate, Diana had to go back to work but Mary, Mason and I hit several thrift stores and found quite a few treasures. The three of us went for a root beer float and then back to Mary's house to meet her little Lilly! Mary has a new little dog, yes, I said little (inside joke! Sorry.), and we couldn't be so close and not stop in for some play time. Since we had no real schedule, Dave was working all day and into the night, we ended up back at the lovely new park in Clayton where Mason and Lilly had a ball! Diana and Keith met us around 5:30 and after lounging in the grass, we walked over to the famous Skipolini's for pizza and salad. What a wonderful day! Diana took Mason and I back to the BART station and an hour later we were back to the awesome hotel (from Mason's point of view), where we walked by the swimming pool and got in the bath tub!

Dave and I managed to make some time together at dinner, over a few drinks, and visiting with several of his buddies and their families. All in all, it was a wonderful little get away, a staycation by all accounts, and the best part is, it was almost all financed by the National Guard! (Disclaimer: Before any one gets feisty about their tax dollars and such, Dave HAD to be there, so all those expenses were paid for no matter what...Mason and I just tagged along and made the most of it.)

So let me leave you with this to get your week off to a good start. What do you have in your life that you take for granted? I clearly have two bath tubs that seem like everyday fare. When in fact, from a child's point of view, a bath tub away from home ranks right up there with a swimming pool! I have to say, I agree with Mason, when I'm away from home, I like to have a bath tub, too. Look around you today and see what you can see from a child's perspective. You might be surprised at the bounty of treasure that surrounds you this very instant!

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