Dreaming of Vacation

I have started my new job this week and as with all new positions there is a lot to learn. My head is swimming in acronyms and new systems on the PC and what goes where, not to mention names of people I have met once. I have two things in my favor right now. My age and my philosophy. I know that I can conquer the work because I have done harder jobs in the past. And I don't take it so seriously as some of the younger ones do. I find that people that are half my age take it soooooooooooo seriously that you would think they were going to DIE if it didn't work out. I would just find another job. Now that is not to say I WANT to lose this job, just that my life would not end. My identity is not with my job as with some.
So, when I am getting too tied up in what has turned out to be 10 and 12 hour days my first week on the job, I take a break and think of where I want to go next on vacation.
Let's see will it be Yellowstone? Or shall we take advantage of being here in the Northwest and go up the coast of Washington and see British Columbia? I have seen this part of the world and it is spectacular! Then if it is as cold and rainy as they all say it will be all winter long, maybe I will want to go someplace more warm like Hawaii or New Orleans? Or Florida? I would love to see the Keys.
I will only get a week next year so it will have to be either close to home or we will fly in and stay in one place, no driving around. So, now I get to imagine all those places and what Cal and I would do in all of them. It is a great game for a gypsy like me. Almost like a mini-vacation in itself.
I have always found that the planning and learning about all the things that are at our destinations to be 50% of the fun of vacation. So I will begin to find out things about all these places over the coming months.
What's the best seasons to see them in. (I hear Yellowstone in the fall is beautiful!)
When is it less expensive? (I hear the week either just before or just after Thanksgiving at Disneyworld is discounted)
When is it just after tourist season but still good weather? (We like Feb-March for Hawaii when the Whales are there but not so many people)
What other things are there to see that isn't the obvoius things that you normally know about? (In New Orleans I would like to take a cruise of the Mississippi on a riverboat)
What tours are available and who does them? What's the pricing? Do they have off season discounts?
(In Hawaii they always have discounts and competative pricing on just about everything! We wait until we get there to look into it, but normally I make calls and start checking things online)
I also start checking out books from the library about the area that I am going to to learn about the area and its legends, folklore and any State Parks and local scenes or festivals that may be happening during the year.
I also will contact the Chamber of Commerce or the Visitor's Bureau when I have decided where we are going.
I like to know as much as I can so that we can enjoy all of the area. Cal likes to just go and be surprised so I usually don't share all of this with him till we are there. Then we decide on things we want to do and see. But at least I know all there is around.
When I get there I talk to all the locals I can to find out what they think. That is usually what makes the trip more special to me.
So, for now, I have my first days off in my first week of my new job. Already I am planning my vacation.
I guess I work to live, not live to work. Sounds a lot more fun don't you think?