The decision is made!

To go or not to go...that is the question I wrestled with for weeks. But, hey there, I should probably introduce myself to those of you kind enough to stop by. My name is Sue, and I am a 56 years young married school teacher who lives in the beautiful state of Nebraska, and most importantly for this blog, an ocean lover.
Now, those of you familiar with this plains state, know that "Nebraska" and "ocean" are not connected concepts ...unless you are one of those Nebraskans who feels that Lake Mac still qualifies as an inland sea. ;) In Nebraska, yes, that is about as close as we get to a beach, but in my mind if  there isn't at least a small chance of being eaten by a shark I have not been to a beach. Not that I would like that to be my beach trip outcome, but you get my point. There just is no inland substitute for the ocean and it's vast unknown depths filled with so many incredible species. Some of whom we know little about yet. The power and beauty of the sea is both mesmorizing and humbling to me. In short, I love the ocean, as much as any landlocked inlander can possibly understand and love it. I don't live anywhere near one, nor have I ever, having grown up in Western Pennsylvania. Whose rolling time worn mountains separated by the clear streams winding through them and painted with sugar maples in the Fall are also stunning, and a place that I love. And since then all of my adult life has been spent here in Nebraska which contains a beauty uniquely it's own. Still, I love to visit that ocean habitat whenever I can. Which always feels so exotic to me since it is such a rare destination. But, I am a nature lover as you can tell, and that can be a problem when "vacationing".
 I was so very fortunate to have always lived near open spaces and in mostly rural settings. The Alleghany National Forest was in my backyard so to speak in Pennsylvania. Here in Nebraska I have most often lived on the outskirts of the city in suburban settings where you can hear more crickets chirping than cars honking (on a good night)...so, of course I don't want to go to a beach full of people.
 Not that I dislike people despite what my next statement is going to sound like...but, and I say this is the nicest way I can, I don't want to; hear them, smell them, or see them any more than necessary on a vacation! Lol
 I prefer not to stand in sweaty lines with them if I can avoid it-unless there is ice cream or donuts which MIGHT make it worth it, but they would have to be really, REALLY good!-or, be forced to watch them parade by in their thongs and other excessive sharing swimwear choices blasting their music while I am trying to listen to the gulls and watch for dolphins. Yes, I am fully aware I would not be in my comfort zone in Europe. And any beach with a sign saying "Nude Beach" would be a definite non option for me. There is just WAY too much bodily knowledge being shared for my naturally conservative nature! ;) ;)

Okay, so yes, I may in fact have some serious limits on my tolerance of humanity! But, all kidding aside, my dream ocean trip is clearly not Miami or Myrtle Beach. I want to head to the National Seashore in the lower end of the Outer Banks. Now, if you have never heard of this place, which I have found a surprising number of people haven't, and you love nature and the ocean, three words... you*should*go! Or, maybe you shouldn't so that it stays serene and naturally beautiful for me! It is not easily accessible, which may help in keeping most of the crowds away. You need to either take a ferry on the southern end, or one lone bridge farther north which is reached after a long drive down a two lane road with North Carolina alligator and bear filled swamps on both sides. The drive down highway 12 once you hit Hatteras Island can often feel like you are one sand dune away from being IN the ocean, which isn't far from the truth at times. But, the natural beauty of the area is worth every long mile it takes to get there. And I say that after only spending one day in the area six years ago now. I bucket listed it as a place I dearly wanted to return to "some day". And, if you are like me, "some days" have a sneaky way of turning into years and decades before you know how it even happened while you were focusing on the rest of your life.

Last Fall I finally started planning a trip to this area for this summer. First, I was going to meet friends there, but life happened and I was forced to cancel those plans. Then, my husband and I were to go, but again, life happened, and he could no longer go and I again canceled. We would go next summer ... but, isn't that how those decades passing happens? By next summer I have no way of being certain there won't be more life events that prevent traveling, and so I faced a decision. Put it off yet again, or go alone.
 Now, don't get me wrong, I am not abandoning my husband on a trip he really wanted to do. If that were the case, I would wait. But, I was dragging him along, almost literally, to a place he didn't think he really wanted to go (although he would love it once he was there, but he's stubborn like that), and he was crabby about it taking vacation days he could have used for hunting and fishing etc. ...so he is in no way heartbroken at me going without him. I am fairly certain he secretly thinks he has gotten off the hook.

 So...I am going.

 For those of you who are solo for whatever reason; single, empty nester, friends all have family to travel with and you do not, etc. You are familiar with this dilemma. You can wait for a time when someone will be able to go with you...or, you can go alone.
 Now, don't get me wrong, I love to travel with someone. I prefer that actually. It gives me someone to talk to in the ice cream and donut lines for one thing! ;) But, it is hard for some of us with very few relatives, and friends who are busy with their own family trips or too financially strapped to travel, or have different interests (Vegas vs. a deserted beach) to find travel partners. Hard enough to find movie or dinner partners right here at home, much less a week long trip to a remote area!
 It is just difficult to find a suitable traveling companion for some us even though we are not social pariahs.
You are essentially roommates for a week or more, depending on the trip, and it needs to be someone who is interested in seeing what you are seeing, has the same capacity for long car trips, where to eat, where to stay, how often to stop etc. or, you will surely make each other miserable.
My daughter and I loved to travel when she was younger, but she is grown with a busy life schedule of her own now, so it makes it hard for us to coordinate our calendars. And my husband, who though whining prior to our trip would have been fun once we hit the road, switched jobs and lost his vacation days...So, I could stay home and wait for next summer to roll around, or I could go alone.

 Not gonna lie, I chose to wait, until two things happened; First, I saw the back to school sales-   starting before the 4th of July was even here no less!
 :(   Which, for parents may have them doing the happy dance that they won't have to clean sticky popsicle residue off the furniture or pry their older offspring off their electronic devices much longer. But, for me as a teacher, it was a harsh reminder of the fast approaching job pressure I will be entering back into in just a couple of weeks. And with doing summer school this year, so that we could take a trip, I really have just gotten on vacation. That felt a little depressing to have given up over half of my summer working, which was in part to pay for a trip, that now wasn't going to happen. First world problems at their finest, right?! But the second deciding factor was when I spoke in length with my daughter's grandmother about her husband's advancing Alzheimers. I hung up the phone thinking, we don't stay healthy and mobile and able to travel forever. And I, quite literally, could find myself another decade down the road seemingly overnight wishing I had done so when I could.
 So, I dusted off  my paid off Discover card and made the most safe looking and inexpensive Airbnb reservation that I could find that very night!
 I got my car serviced yesterday.
 I poured over MapQuest route maps and local information late into the night for the places I will be staying.
I leave late next week.

Am I scared? A little. I am a very independent person, but I read the news and I stay aware. Due to that I recheck my locks and look behind the shower curtain when I get back at night even here at home. So, yes, my caution flag will be waving in my brain as I travel, and I will choose to take precautions; get off the road at night, read the reviews on the hotels and areas I stay in, do restroom stops in Walmarts and Cracker Barrels where you can blend in as a local more than at a rest area or truck stop, etc. Yes, I may have read too many Nora Roberts books and watched the Ted Bundy specials on t.v. too many times!

But, I am going.
And I am proud of myself for that.
There were ever so many reasons not to. But so many more why I should, and for once, I listened.

There's no place like home and I feel a little lonely already, but I also feel an equal mix of excitement for the possibilities of all the new places and things I will see. I recommend that everyone take the trip when you can, even if it means flying solo.
 Hopefully, I will still feel that way when I get back! Lol
11 days till takeoff. Maybe you'll choose to take the journey with me through this blog?
 I will try to be a good online roommate and not post too many ice cream pictures!
#nopromises
#theoceaniscalling
#flyingsolo