The flame is out

I've think I've lost my urge to travel. I'm sure it's only temporary, but still, this is a weird feeling.

I usually have the next trip planned before the first one is even done. What the heck has happened to me? And the oddest part is that I have travel credits in the bank. My Skymiles account has $2400 of free travel just sitting there designated for our family. Free travel. Free travel!!!! And yet, I can't get excited.

It's not that I've had a bad experience or anything recently. It's not that I've been around the world. I haven't seen everything I want to see. I certainly have not done everything either. I just don't know.

Have I lost my sense of adventure? Has my typical winter depression set in early? Am I lost to myself right now?

There are so many places I haven't been. And yet I have no urge to research.

By this time, I'm usually rabid to have something to look forward to. A Christmas vacation helps me get through our dysfunctional family holiday season. This year.... meh.

I think I've lost my spark. The flame is out.

I may as well just get a puppy and stay home.

Mom, "It's a life skill"

"It's not just Christmas shopping, Mom, it's a life skill," says my son as we drive home from a successful evening of shopping together.

Wow. I'm just blown away by his maturity and this "ah ha moment." And more than that, for him to realize this and actually articulate it to me. Again, wow.  I've always known he was a mature kid, wise beyond his 9 years, but still I am impressed enough to share this treasured moment.

The shopping event was pretty straight forward. We had planned to go in the evening, once the mall had quieted for the day. I gave him a very specific, and suitable, amount of money. My only instructions were that he had to buy all the gifts for family and friends with that money, no more. He needed to have a list of people, and at least an idea or two of the the gifts he was after for each person. If there was less than $10 left over he could keep it. (If more than $10 he would have to go back for more gifts.)

He knew what stores he wanted to go to and had a general idea of what he was after. Once at the mall, he quickly realized what options were realistic on his budget and what types of things were available and looked good.  He liked the sales and was always calculating out loud. His math skills are quite good. I didn't have to step in there at all.  He even used the automated check stand at one store!

He bought items for his brother, parents and grandparents, six gifts in total. The most money he spent was on his brother, and I think, the most thought as well. (Hooray!!  I'm a proud mom. ) He really likes the gifts he chose. He's excited for Christmas so he can show off his choices.

We were done in under two hours, with little or no stress at all. He was really proud of himself and we had a lively chat all the way home. That's when he told me a bit about what he's learning in school, and what he learned from me this evening.

I am so blessed.

California Christmas?

Christmas travel can be expensive and stressful. But it can also be an amazing get away from tradition.

Typically, we have spent our Christmases doing the same thing... bouncing from house to house, doing the divorced family Christmas thing. Sharing time, splitting up days and trying to make sure everyone gets equal, or at least a satisfactory amount of time with the grandkids. It can be very hard. Hard on everyone. Bouncing the kids from place to place, trying to squeeze fun into a tight time frame.  Everyone is watching the clock, and celebrating on a schedule just so you can make your next scheduled appointment.

Then there's the gifts. Too many gifts. Too much pressure. Too much stuff you really don't need. All you really need is the company of your loved ones. That's truly all you really crave. Cookies are nice, but they don't replace the hugs and giggles with Grandpa or Uncle Earl or whomever you adore. Those visits can be any time. Any time of year at all. Equally wonderful on the 12th of the month, 24th or 29th.

So last year we tried things a little differently. We made sure to get our special visits in. Just on different days and in a different fashion. We had a gift ban with all friends and relatives. It was actually very liberating. Families that we typically exchange gifts with all agreed NO GIFTS, just casual evening visits in the "holiday season." It was like an invisible burden was lifted. We all shared the same sentiment.

We decorated the house very minimally. We saved our gift money etc and put it towards a family vacation. We happened to snag a bargain. (Are you surprised? LOL) We had 8 days in Maui. It was a gift to ourselves. We opted for surfing lessons on the 27th of Dec. and watched the sunset on the beach the same night. Instead of turkey, we had tacos. Instead of candy canes, we had macadamia nuts. And on New Year's eve, we went to a Luau. It was amazing. What an experience!

Did anyone miss Christmas? Nope. Did anyone miss the stress? Nope. But it's also not something you can do every year. It's a treat.

It can even work on a budget. West Jet looks like they still have some decent priced flights to California. Bypass LAX and use the SNA (Anaheim airport). And unless you are into crowds, I probably wouldn't make it my first or only visit to Disneyland. But what about Christmas in San Diego? Or Palm Springs?  California is a new destination for West Jet. There are still some bargains out there, more so than Florida at this time of the year.

West Jet package prices for a week at Christmas 2011 start around $1000 per person. However, airfare & hotel booked separately leads to increased opportunity to save money and tailor your hotel choice. Maybe the family wants to glide down a lazy river at a resort, rather than toboggan down a snow hill this Christmas? You never know unless you try it.

Christmas travel gets 4 thumbs up from my crew.