Travel Plans 2022

 Another written in Jan 2022 but forgot to publish.

I'm so excited for this year's travel plans! 

First up will be a trip in late May to Yosemite for two days, Lake Tahoe for a day, and Reno for four.  I was 18 the one and only trip I've had to Yosemite and didn't fully enjoy the sheer wonder of this place at the time as I didn't realize that there is nothing like it anywhere else...because let's face it - at 18 few thing impress you because; well I don't know. Maybe you think you'll continue to see new things like this more often as you discover the world. But looking back you realize nope. So I'm thrilled I'll now see it from a appreciative mid 40 year olds eyes. There is a picture my late father took of me in the Valley with one of the waterfalls behind me that I plan to recreate! I have (perhaps) too much planned for the less than 48 hrs we'll be in the park but feel it might be my last chance to see it all so trying to pack it in.  I have several short hikes planned for our 1 full day totaling over 6 miles. Which may not seem like much but with arthritic knees & hips and our general laziness this should be interesting. And of course staying a night in Tahoe on our way across the Sierra Nevada mnts, please! My favorite place in the US! I don't mind that it's just a day since we were there for 5 days two years ago. Reno I will enjoy as it will have been 9 years since our last visit. It may not be the most exciting or beautiful place but I enjoyed our trips there as newly engaged and married couple back when Jeff went there for bowling tournaments.  So it is a town that holds special memories. 

Then in early July my bestie and I are going to Oregon!  In late August I was with her at a pool taking about Mr Juice leaving for a guys golf trip to the north woods and she lamented that there are no 'girls trips' and I explained I was waiting for our friends kids to be old enough for the girls to feel comfortable leaving them and she exclaimed "They're old enough!  I'm ready now!" 🤣 well they are like 12 & 9 so planning begun. Within a day I thought of Oregon as she's always wanted to see Astoria where the Goonies was filmed.  And we finally pulled the trigger in December buying flights and reserving rooms. 4 days. And our plans are a bit crazy with 3 hrs of driving per day basically to hit several points in the NW corner of the state.  I hope it's EPIC! And because it's without Mister J it's way more nature and hiking and no gambling. Don't get me wrong. I looove my trips with the hubs and love gambling but my mom laughs that I always rope him into a nature excursion (which she thinks is great) and I agree but wonder if I'll ever get him to go somewhere without it. 😆 The last/only one I can think of was our honeymoon over 13 years ago. 

And we'll round out the year in October in Vegas as always for his birthday because...well we're addicted and 2017 was the last year we went without a trip to Vegas and honestly I don't know if/when we'll ever have a full year again without it.  

I did tell him this October that going 3x in a row (Oct 30, April 21 and Oct 21) was too much and I needed a break! So first we thought a return to the Bahamas. But flights were super expensive so we started looking at 3 options; Boston, New Orleans or our Yosemite/Reno trip. I let him choose as I had already been to Yosemite & we'd both been to New Orleans independently and he had been to Boston. I kind of was leaning towards Boston since I'd never been and honestly didn't get my hopes up for Yosemite (even though I really wanted to go) as I thought it might be too much nature/ out of the way in J's mind so I was thrilled when he picked it! We can save the other two for other years.  

I saw a video of regrets most retirees have and #1 is not traveling when they're younger and more able bodied. And I am glad to have my thoughts validated. Travel as much NOW! If the girl trip goes well I hope to make a 4 day weekend excursion a yearly thing. I promised my other bestie that next year it will be to Georgia to see her so even if my other friend can't join me I got 2023 lined up 😆❤. #wanderlust.