Two Weeks. Too Much?

The two weeks in Florida are coming to an end.  As it was last year when we spent two weeks in Orlando, I am ready to go home.  Actually I was ready last Saturday.

Don't get me wrong.  I like the warmer weather.  I like being away from the responsibilities and appointments and the daily routines.  But I miss some of that too.

And the week with the kids at the resort and at Disney was so special.  I wouldn' t trade that for anything.  So many memories made.

But I was ready to return home with the kids.  I am ready to go home now.  And I don't like that feeling because I sometimes feel like I am wishing my life away and I don't want to do that.  Time flies by so fast as it is.

Last year we spent two weeks at two different resorts in Orlando.  The weather didn't really cooperate, and we didn't do anything with Disney or Universal, other than going to Disney Springs a couple of times and going to Blue Man Group at Universal City Walk.  But it just seemed like too long.  There were maybe two days that it was warm enough to sit by the pool.  We stayed in and watched tv and I read...and we could have done that at home...for free!

This year Blaine and Hilary and the kids were here for the first week, and the time at the resort was fun.  We really enjoyed the four days at the parks, even though we were SO tired, and swimming in the evenings and buzzing around Orlando was fun too. Waking up to Landon and Owen jumping on our bed, hearing them talk and laugh....it was priceless.

Tom and Gina offered their winter home outside of Zolfo Springs to us for the second week.  This was in a retirement community and reminded us of being back in Pulaski County.  It wasn't because of the terrain, the little towns, or the atmosphere.  It was because there was NOTHING to do there.  The people in the little community were happy, buzzing around in the golf carts and riding their bicycles. We didn't do that.  Four men stopped by in the first hour after we arrived, just to help out with some issues we were having with the tv and the ac and to offer help if needed. That was the extent of their friendliness except for Bill next door who chatted when we saw him.  But as far as a movie theatre, restaurants, entertainment of any kind?  There wasn't much.  We did find some things to do in the town north and the one south. A Chili's. A Walmart.  An Italian restaurant with good food. But other days we drove over an hour to Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, one day to Sarasota and Bradenton Beach, and another day to Sebring.  There was a lot of time to watch tv and to read, which we did.  But we could do that at home.  Maybe we should have been more social and visited with the people more.  If we were going to be permanent or semi-permanent residents, we would have.  If the golf cart had been more reliable, we might have taken a couple drives around the complex to check it out and wave at the residents.  But we didn't.  We isolated ourselves.  One thing we did learn....we are NOT ready for that kind of life yet.

I am looking forward to being home again.  I miss my bed.  I miss my shower and bathroom.  I miss my kitchen.  I miss running into Lafayette.  I miss the kids.

And I know once we return home on Sunday, that things will become very busy with having Owen on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and returning to the Fitness Center on MWF mornings, and with Cooper and Lynnlee spending the night on Friday.

While we enjoyed our two very different yet somewhat similar January trips the last two years, we need to think about what we will do next year.  A different area?  Another state?  A different plan?  Just stay home?  Any suggestions?  We are open to them.