Summer 2011

So, next summer is going to be significantly long. I will have about 2.5 months to "transition" back to the states, and already my calendar is filling up. My schedule is largely dictated by a few monumental events happening in the lives of some of my family.

First, my youngest brother is graduating from high school. :-)

Two weeks after that, my oldest two nieces are graduating from high school. Followed immediately by a family reunion that I am greatly looking forward to.

Around the second round of graduations, I will be spending time playing with my new niece or nephew, as well as a new cousin!

(In between those graduations, I'm pretty sure I'm road tripping it up from NC, up to Chicago, seeing some friends, going to a wedding, and then cutting across Canada to get me to NY.)

My family will take what is an annual vacation that I unfortunately missed last year. That should be a good time up in the mountains and is always enjoyable. There's a chance some of my other family will be joining us up there, so that will make it even better.

Then, I'm considering working a summer camp just to make some money and reunite with friends of mine and enjoy some time around there.

Then I have a little while to relax (with lots of visiting happening) and then a family reunion for the maternal side. Another thing I am looking forward to as I have missed the last three.

After that I will head back down south and hopefully work some and get ready for school to start.

And that is my whirlwind of a summer.

However, I am also trying to add something else into it.

I will be spending most of those 2.5 months reconnecting with people I haven't seen in at least two years, traveling around and visiting other people, and somehow trying to get used to being stateside again.

Basically, I know I will be overwhelmed after a bit of this. So, what I'm trying to do is add in a very quiet get away at some point towards the end of July or at the beginning of August. A place where I will be able to go and retreat. Relax and process. I know that even after my last visit to the states (that was only 6 weeks in length), that I was beyond overwhelmed. A lot of people to see, and a lot of things to do. I know it will only be worse with the fact that I will then be LIVING back there. I will need a retreat. A place to withdraw to.

Currently, that means I'm looking at cruises (aka: get on a boat and not have to worry about cooking or cleaning or ANYTHING for a week). I've really narrowed it down to two options that really appeal to me and sometimes have really good deals. One to Bermuda, or one to Alaska. Both are interesting places I've not been before, but also offer a chance to just relax and enjoy the surroundings.

I'm still exploring my options, but a cruise really appeals to me as a chance to sit in the middle of the vastness of creation and marvel at all that surrounds us. I remember from the last cruise I went on (and the only one I've been on) how much fun it was to meet people and learn their stories and get to know them over the course of a few days. I am yearning to go on a cruise and I have no idea why. I think I'm just craving seeing somewhere new. Doing something different.

Alas. All conjecture at this point. If you're interested in helping me have a vacation next summer, let me know, and I'll let you know how you can help me reach it. :-) I'm thinking Christmas presents and birthday presents... just let me know, and I'll get you some information.

I miss you all. I'll try to write once more before I head out for this vacation. But if not, enjoy Christmas and New Year's and the new beginnings that come with both of those holidays.