02 August 2007

My Non-Vacation


It looks like we're not going to be able to go on vacation this year. We've been holding out hope that we'd be able to find some last minute deal, the kind at a crazy low price if you can be on the plane in an hour. But those deals are not to be found, and we don't have the money for regular prices. It's part and parcel to (1) living where we do, where you don't have anywhere fun to go with a couple hour drive (in Jersey, we lived an hour from the Shore and three hours from the mountains) and (2) being in ministry (Chris) and having an odd assortment of jobs (me), none of which pay well at all.
I know. I shouldn't complain. After all, I was able to spend time in Chicago this year. And I have an incredible husband who isn't making me quit the fun stuff (writing, speaking, and teaching music) to find a "real" job and make us some money. But I'm not sure if I can survive a whole year without a glimpse of my beloved ocean (Robin, I'm counting on you for some sympathy here). I think it's only happened once or twice in my life, and one of those times it was because I had spent the summer in Czech Republic teaching English, so that made up for it.
So, pardon me. I need to go mourn now.
P.S. Chris took that picture last year at Sanibel Island, where he took me as a surprise for our first anniversary.

7 comments:

christianne said...

Love the picture! Very pretty. I'm sorry you don't get to go away this year. I do love it, though, that you get to spend your days doing what you love and not making it about the money right now. Believe me, though -- I feel your pain about the penny pinching. Kirk and I have lived in our new house for two months now, but we still have two rooms with absolutely no furniture in them at all. Bums me out sometimes, but I'd rather be in the situation we are than working for money with a furnished house.

Jennwith2ns said...

Oh, I hear you, Heather. Technically I live on "the coast," and I STILL never get to see the ocean. And both times I attempted to this year, it rained. A lot. (I still SAW it. I just didn't get to get IN it.)

I did get some mighty fine clams, though.

Heather said...

Attitude correction: between Christianne's reminder that yes, I am grateful to be in my situation rather than have all the money in the world and Marcus' post today at Higher Calling blogs about doing God's work over making money, I need to say that I'm lifting my chin and swallowing a spoonful a sugar.

willowtree said...

You don't need to go anywhere to have a vacation. I know it's easy for me to say because, a) I don't work anyway, and b) I've got a house right on the coast, but there must be interesting things to do within a couple of hours drive of where you live.

Jason said...

Hey, just wanted to say that I read your Matt and Marnie story on Infuze today.

I loved the voice in it. You could feel the awkwardness of the first date for the young mother. I almost wanted to squirm along with her at the end of the night.

Very well written!

Anonymous said...

This is very sad - anyway you can just do a drive up for the day? Get up really early and make a whole day of it (so it feels like you got some beach time in?)

Anonymous said...

Okay, so I'm showing up late to this post, but I'm TRYING to both "Fun Monday" and catch up with my favorite blogs...total binging, but you know me, I don't post mindless comments (lol, that might be a matter of opinion :) ).

Yes, there are so many positives to your lives; of course, there's a bright side!

That being said, you get TOTAL sympathy from me! I FEEL your "pain" (although, yeah yeah, I know I'm being a bit melodramatic). We used to live 3 1/2 hours from the beach and two from the mountains, and it makes a difference.

Dang it, I'm sending you another prize...give me a few days to 1) remember to, and 2) get my act together.

Get this, Heather...I just noticed my word ver: uflyd (you flyed)(no you didn't :( ). :)