Journey & Adventure

There are days that I just can’t seem to focus.  Today is one of them.  I’m distracted by everyone, everything, every piece of paper on my desk, my pens, calculator – you name it and it will distract me.  I think it would be best described as cabin fever.  I don’t want to be here and I certainly don’t want to be doing what I’m doing.  I dream of far off places, which causes me to search out flights.  Flights to places I won’t be going anytime soon, unless of course, I find a great deal or a bag of money on the side of the road.   But today those deals elude me. I daydream of warm weather and sunshine.  Canada continues to be in a deep freeze with no end in sight.  Although today is sunny, it’s still not warm enough to venture outside without boots, mittens, hats, scarves, and of course a winter coat.  Of course, let’s not forget the lip balm and buckets of skin moisturizer that is needed on a daily basis.  ...

I can’t believe we are already in the last week of July.   Eeeks!   Summer is passing me by.   How has that happened?   Where did it go and how can I get it back?   Seriously, I’m freaking out about this one.   The weather has been on a “cool” side and not in a “wow that’s awesome” kind of cool.   More like cold, put on socks kinda cold…brrr…   This summer has been a summer of “procedures”, with visits to Drs., Dentists and Specialists.    First, I had a filling, then a root canal, then another filling to fix the crown where the hole was made from the root canal.   Then there were miscellaneous Doctor’s appointments, blood tests or as I like to call them “tune-ups”.   Then, I had a biopsy on a spot that I’ve had above my left eyebrow for at least a year and that hasn’t seemed to heal and just last Friday, a follow-up appointment for the results.   Turns out, I have basal-cell carcinoma – a form of skin cance...

The hardest part of coming back from vacation is the reality that comes along with it. We’ve been back over a week, but it seems like we have never left. As soon as our feet hit Canadian soil and our phones were switched back on, we were immediately immersed within our old lives and the day to day madness it brings. How come it takes a week of being on vacation for the stress to leave your body, but it only takes a mere hour or two for all the stress to return? Household chores, work, family madness, bills and all the responsibilities that go along with everything I just listed seem to loom larger than before we left. I know, I know, I keep telling myself “suck it up buttercup”, but it doesn’t mean I have to stop whining about it. In a mere 8 months, I’ll have another chance to decompress…maybe. We are taking J’s parents on a trip to Puerto Rico with us. They wanted us to take them back to Hawaii again, but as I told them (thanks to the Rolling Stones)… “you can’t alw...

While still in Bocas, J and I started to compile a list of the pros and cons of the island. It’s funny to me what made our list – J listed being able to flush toilet paper in the toilet as a major pro because in some countries/locations, you must dispose of used paper waste in a trash can because the plumbing is not equipped for anything except waste. I on the other hand listed the amount of excess water bottles tossed around as a con. I understand it’s not North America, but the lack of recycling facilities bothered me. Even with the lack of recycling facilities, I was very impressed with how clean and pristine some of the beaches were. J liked the idea of still being able to purchase oceanfront property. I too like this idea, but my expectations are that we still can’t afford even the smallest amount of oceanfront luxury in Panama. I was also disappointed in the lack of quality fruits and vegetables. I understand we were on an island, but I thought nice fruits and v...

J and I have just returned from our trip to Bocas Del Toro, Panama. Our one week trip allowed us to experience a little of what this island has to offer. We mixed pleasure, with business, as we were after all trying to get a lay of the land and to see if this place could be in the running as a retirement destination. I’m happy to report that it’s still in the running. We may just need to adjust our expectations a little. Some of the Pros included - Beautiful Beaches; Friendly People; Warm Weather; Cheap Adult Beverages; Affordable Real Estate; Relaxed Atmosphere... Some of the Cons included – a lot of rain (it is a rainforest after all); not many options for household shopping; no potable water – all drinkable water needed to be purchased; not a lot to do, except relax (this is also a Pro, but long term I would likely need a little bit of something, something to keep me engaged). I'll try to collect my thoughts a little more and expand on the above Pros and Con...

I am so happy to see January on its way out the door. January is a month that provides me with nothing but misery – it’s long, cold, dark and dreary. With a little luck, I’ll only have to endure four more Canadian Januarys. Hooray! I’ve started with my Fluenz Spanish lessons and so far, things are progressing nicely. I’m only on lesson 4 of the first DVD – only 26 more lessons to go and then I have another 4 DVDs. Good thing I started early. Keeping with the Spanish theme, I’m noticing that the voices in my head are now speaking to me in Spanish - particularly after completing a lesson and then heading straight to bed. I guess it’s not necessarily a bad thing – unless I can’t understand them. J and I are still engrossed in our relocation research. I’ll only say this – we’ve started to look at yet another country as a potential candidate. I’m sure we’ll end up looking at plenty more before we even book another flight to take a research tour. Our new living room furnitu...

Now that the craziness of the holiday season is almost behind us, I’m hoping to get back into the blogging state of mind. With everything else going on these days, it’s been hard to keep up. My Christmas shopping is done and wrapped. Thank goodness for small miracles. I’ve been second guessing a couple of the purchases. Not that I’ve overspent on them, I’m just not 100% convinced they will be appreciated as much as I feel they should be. Oh well, I’m not dwelling on it because it’s the thought that counts – right? About 4 weeks ago, J and I ordered new living room furniture for Christmas. Only one piece was being customized with different fabric, but we refused to pay a delivery charge twice, so we’re now expecting it to be delivered in time for Valentine’s Day. It seemed like a good idea at the time. The Gigantic Craft Show has come and gone. After all my hard work, I’m happy to say I made money. Not enough to retire, but enough to call it a success. Will I do the same s...

Artistic Photo by J Gumby Enjoying the Sunset - Day 1 Love the Boat Name:  "Free at Last" Lac Bay, Bonaire - Heaven on Earth Gumby Enjoying the Salt Pier - Best Dive Site on Island 1,000 Steps Dive Site - Only 60+ Steps to the Bottom,  Feels Like 1,000 with Dive Gear On Gumby Enjoying A Couple of Cold Ones After a Hard Day of Diving -  Polar, A Nice Import From Venezuela

Our vacation was fantastic. We had great weather, great scuba adventures and of course great company - overall it was a huge success. The downside however, was the lack of rest. We went with our usual group of scuba friends and needless to say, there was no shortage of laughs, beer or knocks at our condo door at all hours of the day and night. I truly enjoy the camaraderie of the group, but also long to be left the hell alone after a long day of diving, sunshine and fresh air. I now recall why on previous visits to the island, J and I chose to stay away from the group at other accommodations on the opposite side of the island. Are we anti-social? Perhaps we are, but I’m not apologizing for liking my privacy. I find that after working for months on end – day in and day out in a “social” work environment with meetings, phone, calls and various interactions with co-workers, I need a time-out while on vacation. Don’t get me wrong, I love these scuba friends and am blesse...

Yes, it’s ALMOST that time of year again. Time for me rejuvenate and store up on some sunshine and vitamin D before the long winter ahead. It’s time for me to pack my bags and scuba gear and head off to a place where memories are made, good times are had and the ocean is explored. For some, Disney is the happiest place on earth, but for me it’s Bonaire. You may recall this is one of my contenders for places to retire, so J and I plan on using this opportunity to do some more research into the actual cost of living, average cost of vehicles, neighborhoods, etc. Five years is still a long way off, but at least we’ll be getting an idea of how expensive things actually are. I can hardly wait to get there and park myself at the beach bar for a beverage or two - for a live webcam view of it, take a look here .  Maybe you'll see me there (in a week and a bit)... Here are a few photos of the island from vacations past… By the way - all of the above photos are cour...

People say – “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” I say – “Absence makes you wonder why you didn’t stay away longer.” Yes, I’m back. It’s good to be home, but it’s not so good to be back at work and back to reality. Reality is overrated. I know, I know...enough of my bemoaning the fact that my vacation is over. We arrived home late in the evening on my birthday, March 31st. We left the Philippines on my birthday.  I had two whole days of birthdays thanks to the International Date Line. It was the longest birthday of my life, but thank goodness, I didn’t age twice.  That would NOT have been cool. This time around, jet lag caught up to me with a vengeance. It’s now Wednesday, April 04, 2012 and I’m just starting to function again. Thank goodness it’s a short work week – Good Friday is a Godsend (pardon that horrible pun). I hope to finally get some pictures downloaded from my camera tonight and put together some thoughts from our trip, which I hope to share w...

So, I feel sort of ashamed of myself and I don’t mean to brag, but I’ve just booked another vacation. I know, I know, I haven’t even left for the one in March, so what business do I have in booking another one? Well, I don’t have any business going anywhere after my complaining about how much the March one is costing me. Well on the topic of cost…cheap airfare is the reason I do EVERYTHING!!! I live for cheap airfare and literally receive daily updates from all of the major airlines and booking sites. I’ve been watching flight prices since last October for my favorite place on Earth (Bonaire by the way) and airfare has been averaging $1,000 pp. Well, $1,000 airfare is just too much to pay for something in the Caribbean when I also have to consider accommodations, vehicle rental and scuba diving. This morning, there is an e-mail in my inbox saying my watched flight to Bonaire has gone down by $250. Hmmm, that’s still a lot of money but I decide to take a peek at the f...

Well, I've been back from Hawaii for over a week now and last week was a whirlwind.  The other  two ladies in the legal department are out until the New Year with pneumonia, so that has left me doing the work of three people and that itself hasn't left me much time for anything - especially not blogging or Christmas stuff. I guess it was Wednesday when it dawned on me that Christmas was less than two weeks away.  Here it is now Saturday and I'm still just thinking about Christmas shopping. I know I'll pull it together before it actually gets here, but honestly, I'd rather be back at the beach...(which I'll report on in detail later)...

Don't get excited, I'm not leaving permanently, just departing on a little vacation to Hawaii. I hope to actually have some time stop in and say hello. See you soon!

I realize it’s technically not winter yet, but I’m fed up already and I haven’t even seen a snowflake yet.     With only one month remaining until I vacate this country for the sunny south, here’s my top 10 list which might indicate you also need a vacation to a sunny, warm destination…   1.        “Wind chill” is suddenly the new catch phrase. 2.        You go to work in the dark and you come home in the dark. 3.        It’s the first day of November and you have appointment to have your snow tires put on. 4.        It’s the first day of November and Christmas has thrown up all over the mall. 5.        It’s the first day of November and Vegas bookies have started taking bets on when the first Christmas carol will be played on the radio. 6.        You’ve b...

The deed is done – J and I have booked our trip to Hawaii in December and will be bringing along an entourage with us - consisting of my in-laws, my 27 year old niece and The Boy.   I still suspect my sister-in-law from Ireland and her husband will end up joining us there.     Because of the cheap flight prices, we couldn’t get everyone on the same flights, so The Boy and my niece are travelling separately, but together with each other.   They have two stopovers and limited time in between flight changes. Technically they are adults and I shouldn’t worry, but when two easily distracted people get together, it could mean chaos.     The trip should be okay – J’s mom is over-the-top excited and has started to pack already.   She is even talking about trying to snorkel.     This trip will earn us at least 3 get out of jail free cards from future family functions.   Whoo hooo!   Never in my life have I had ...

So, know how I said that I wouldn’t be going on a vacation until my Philippines trip in March 2012?   Well, it turns out that I lied - maybe.    I know.   I know – liar, liar, pants on fire….   BUT in my defense – I’m only thinking about going away because I'm getting an awesome deal on flights.    I still can’t technically afford to go, but I’ll figure that out later.      As a bonus, we are going over J’s birthday in December, so that means I won’t have to buy him a present – considering the trip will double as his present.   We are considering asking J’s parents if they want to go with us.   This decision goes against both of our better judgments; however I’m not sure if the trip will be worse than the “guilt trip” they send us on every time we tell them were going away….   J’s mother’s famous line:    ”Hmmm, it must be nice to travel.   We just don’t have the experience to tra...

I’ve always struggled with the question “where do you see yourself in 5, 7 or 10 years”?   Realistically, I don’t really know.       In my fantasy world - I know that I don’t want to be working.   I know that I don’t want to be living in Canada during the winter months and I know that I want to be independently wealthy.   I said it was a fantasy world…enough said.   On the other hand, the real world tells me that - I’ll still be working, still be living in Canada during the winter months and I won’t be independently wealthy.     BUT   I do have a 7 to 10 year plan to get me somewhere closer to my ultimate goal…   To own a vacation property somewhere in the Caribbean.   Ideally I would like to own a vacation property on Bonaire, but I’ll go wherever I can get the most “bang for my buck” - without pirates or warlords of course.     My Plan to Get There…   I kn...

Well folks, I've returned from holidays...my apologies... All that's left are the memories.  Here are a few photos, which I should point out were actually taken by me.  I bought my own camera, so as not to have to rely on J to share his.

I n a desperate attempt to put the winter blahs behind me, I trying to look on the bright side of things and this is my attempt of looking for the positives in the month of March (in no particular order). St. Patrick’s Day – What’s not to love about a day where you can drink green beer and kiss Irish people? My Birthday – Also another day you can drink beer and kiss Irish people. Mardis Gras -  Do you sense a pattern?  Another day to drink beer, but this time I don’t think you’re limited to just kissing the Irish. Spring – The first day of Spring officially arrives – enough said.  No wait – WHOO HOOO!!! Daylight Savings Time – More daylight!  Yeah!!! Three Pay Checks – Bi-weekly pay periods are fantastic when you are blessed with three of them in one month.   What to buy? What bill to pay? March Madness – I don’t really follow basketball any other time of year, but I am part of a “p...