January 10, 2010 will be mine and Jason’s 10 year wedding anniversary. Don’t yo
u think that’s plenty of time to save and plan for a “real” vacation? I think so, but every time I even mention it Jason rolls his eyes and doesn’t give it another thought. I know he’s probably thinking, “here we go again with the “real” vacation crap issue.” I think we deserve one. We’ve gone out of town on short little getaways but never anywhere that actually requires an airplane to get there. I do appreciate those small getaways, and I know between work, money, Bailey and school, oh and can’t forget the pets we can’t leave behind for too long, it’s hard to really go anywhere too far.
I think 10 years of marriage qualifies as a good reason to just do it. Since it HAS to be in the good ol’ USA (Jason has issues with leaving American soil) it wouldn’t really be that hard. I would settle for going to Vegas or Southern California or New York would be fun but that again is in issue also. New Orleans would be a great place to visit, so would Maine. There are so many beautiful places in the states that I would be very happy to visit. I’ve seen most of the west and would really like to see some of the east or south. If I could go anywhere in this world it would be Italy, I know I won’t ever get Jason there.
I was talking to a girlfriend of mine a couple weeks ago and she was telling me about her weekend. Her and her husband just had their 1 year anniversary and he surprised her with a trip to Wisconsin Dells. She didn’t figure it out until she saw the signs and he was pulling off the highway. Needless to say, she will never forget her 1 year wedding anniversary. I’m thinking to myself, wow, that was almost 10 years ago and I can’t remember what we did. It would make sense that we would have gone to The Waterfront but I just can’t remember. That kinda makes me feel bad. Not that is wasn’t important because every year is, I just can’t remember how we celebrated it. I want to remember our 10 year. I want something so special and out of the ordinary I’ll never forget it. And going on a vacation out of Minnesota would certainly be out of the ordinary.
I now it’s not that Jason doesn’t want to, he’s a romantic at heart. It’s just the whole process. The saving extra money, the planning, packing, oh and did I mention he refuses to fly? I would be up for a road trip, that could be a lot of fun. Still, the destination has to be out of Minnesota, preferably on a coast.
Do any of you have a memorable holiday (anniversary, birthday, mother’s day, etc…) you’ll never forget because you went on a real vacation or did something so special and out of the ordinary? I have a hard time remembering exactly what I did for each birthday. I know I’ll never forget my 28th because I went to Valleyfair. I would really like to look back in 50 years and remember exactly what we did to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary.
Us Girls..Our Views 
I’ve never travelled for a “special occasion,” but I’ve been around a bit with my friends. On contiguous US soil, I loved Colorado just outside of Denver, and the Grand Canyon. Niagara Falls is very nice too, though I take it for granted since I can drive there any time. If Jason isn’t opposed to Canada, Banff is really, really nice (but you don’t want to go in the winter). Alaska was my favorite US destination, but you’d have to fly.
There are so many great US destinations that you could probably drive to. For me, any place with mountains, forests, and clean bodies of water is like paradise – as long as I’m not there on business.
Good luck!
What about taking a Train Trip? Jump on the California Zephyr – the trip itself would be the vacation, and you could see lots of the countryside.
And either tell Jason exactly what you told us, or sit him down and have him read what you wrote here. What you’re asking for isn’t ridiculous, and you have plenty of time to plan for all the little details. And the fact that you’re taking his preferences into consideration – not flying, not leaving America – shows that you’re being realistic, not pie-in-the-sky-I-wanna-go-to-BoraBora-for-a-month-with-a-sexy-cabana-boy crazy…
Good luck!
My 28th was celebrated in Spain… with my man, my mom (first time in years I saw her on my birthday) and some friends I hadn’t seen in about 5 years! It was also my first trip overseas! It was AMAZING!
If I ever got myself over to the states… I would want to take a side trip to Canada – just to see what it was like… I have a calling to go visit there… and possibly to move there when I’m all grow’d up like a big person…
Oh Laura you made me laugh!!! This is not any new news to Jason, I told him about the post and he said he’d settle for Vegas so we’ll see. Oh BoroBoro with a cabana boy….too funny Laura!!!!
Nikki, you totally deserve a real vacation as you call it. Ten is a big number, and it should be something to remember! I really hope Jason comes around to that way of thinking as well, despite the hastle a trip can be.
I’ve actually been abroad twice with my boyfriend, but it’s different here – Israel is so tiny there’s nowhere to go, and Europe is so close and easy to get to, just a few short flight hours. I will definitely remember those trips, because they were wonderful!
Oooo, you live in Minnesota? My mom grew up in St. Paul – I’ve always wanted to visit, to see the places of her childhood…
I love St.Paul, the big beautiful churches and the building are so historic. A couple years ago when my friend Kristin and I were really big on “exercising” we would go down there and walk up and done the streets, really we just loved looking at all the beautiful old homes and building!!!
that was supposed to be “up and down” the streets!!!! Sorry I must need more coffee!!
Our tenth anniversary is coming up this February. We are trying to figure out where to go. We have narrowed it down to 3 places: Vegas, Skiing in New Mexico or Deep Sea fishing.
As for our other anniversaries we always follow the traditional list so that helps me remember how we spent them. How can I forget opening a paper mache rooster in our favorite Italian restaurant for our 1st anniv. or getting a banana and a rose on our plane ride to Laughlin, Nevada for our 4th anniv.
Nicole, as we just dicussed the vacation thing on the phone, yesterday, yes a well needed vacation is a for sure thing. Maybe we should go to vegas together. Then it would get the guys more motovited to want to go.
We never really took vacations. With most of my extended family in Canada and also having a cabin, we either went to Canada or the cabin. When the kids got a little older we would go to the North Shore from Monday to Thurs one week in Feb. It was way cheaper to go during the week and we could rent a condo for almost half price. Skiing was also a lot cheaper during the week at Lutsen and we were only 5 or so hours away.
Now I’m going to be brutally honest with you. In order for you to take a vacation, you have to save the money for it. It’s pretty hard to save money each week when most of it’s going to pay bills. Something will have to be cut out. Whether it be coffee at the gas station, new clothes when not really needed and maybe even bowling or softball or any other “little” thing you spend money on that you don’t really have to have. Something will have to go if you want to save.
Any kind of trip whether it be by plane, train or automobile will take money. Then you need your room and board and spending money. We are talking thousands of dollars so you’ll have to start this right now. Take even as little as $20 every now and then and give it to Paul. You know Jason would hate to ask for any and he can open an account for you. But that’s how you save, you start small and it all adds up.
I hate for everyone to “blame” Jason for this because his heart is huge and he’d love to do this for you but unfortunately you need to have the funds to do this kind of thing and there isn’t a whole lot left over after payday.
START SAVING NOW if you really want to do this.
I’m not blaming Jason for anything. I said in the post that he is a romantic, and I do know that he would love to do this for me. I think there are several things we can cut out to save towards a trip. I know between my work, his work, money and the fact that neither one of us made it a priority is to blame. Jason admits he’s not into traveling but he would consider going to Vegas and I’ve looked into prices and it is feasible. We have a saving account we can put our money into.
We get to keep Bailey here so he can get a good dose of spoiling 🙂
I think it is important to do something really special! Especially for your 10 year wedding anniversary! WOW! You guys were young when you got together girl 😉 Is Jason scared to fly? That really stinks because it’s a cool experience. I think people should do more special things for birthday’s too. My birthday was yesterday recovering on the coach, last year I was sick on the coach, LOL, but Eric’s done many romantic things I remember.
We’ve been married 3 years in Feb., and our 1st date was 7 years ago in Feb. , and have lived together for 5 years…time goes fast!
Anywayz, yea, we’ve never flown somewhere either to celebrate or left the state to celebrate…
Yea, Joy is right that you got to put a little away each paycheck…I started using cash only sometimes and then I put away all the change including dollar bills- it really adds up!
Talking with Eric, leaving the “American soil” is the best experience you can have, and Eric said to tell Jason, “The grass grows green just like it does here!” LOL What is his issue with leaving!? Weirdo!
I would love a train trip-that’s a great idea! Those are expensive. Yea, saving money is hard! Something we need to get better at.
I think you don’t have to leave the state for it to be memorable either. For one of my birthdays, Eric surprised me with a ferry boat ride in Minnesota where we had dinner and danced to live music on the boat. It was so sweet and thoughtful, I’ll never forget that.
Tessa, yes I was 19 and he was 23 when we got married. I don’t anyone to think this is ALL Jason, it is a number of things that has kept us from doing anything really extravagant. Jason hasn’t flown since 9-11. I think he is coming around. I know he really does want to go to Vegas and we already have money in our saving but that is for emergencies, can’t touch that!!! And yes Joy you can most certainly keep Bailey.
Our first vacation “far away” was to Jamaica in 2004. It was our honeymoon 3 years late! Toby had more fun than I did, but it was my first time flying and I was 7 weeks pregnant so it’s not like I got all wild and crazy! We haven’t been anywhere by plane since. Toby hates to fly b/c he gets sick and really doesn’t like crowds. I would love to go to Vegas! Someday I will get there.
I do have to say that trains stink! I went to Minot, N.D. by train and New Orleans by train and it is not something I would repeat! I wouldn’t mind going back to New Orleans, but I don’t think that will ever happen!
This is something that my hubby and I have talked about a lot lately. Our 10 year anniversary is coming up in August of 2009. We had planned to have an account with a vacation fund in it…um…yeah…so far we have nothing in that account…
We kept talking back and forth about places we could go. We never took a honeymoon. We too got married young and paid for our own wedding. We opted not to take a honeymoon and always said in 10 years time we’d have plenty of money for a honeymoon…of course we’d forgotten at the time that it would also be very likely we’d have a couple of young kids too…oops!
I really wanted to go to the British Isles, but Chuck really didn’t want to. Then we started talking about places in the midwest we could go. We joked about going to Vegas. Both us are REALLY NOT into gambling so we figured Vegas really wasn’t for us…then we thought it would be warm and there were so many things to do that weren’t gambling. We joked that we could get our vows renewed with Elvis, see a show with Tom Jones, and ride the roller coasters on the top of the city. We also figured we could go to the part of Vegas (I forget the name) that is all the pretend European cities and take photos like we really had gone a 10 year trip to Europe. Once we started laughing about it we decided it was our trip of choice because it sounded the most fun and easiest to get to.
We talked to a few friends and coworkers, and even a gas station attendant that had overheard us talking about it one day. People kept telling us that it was one of the cheapest places you could go to IF you stayed close to the casinos. They said shows were very expensive, but if you were in the casino they did anything to make you stay and food and drink were generally free.
IF we can get our act together I think we’ll be heading to Vegas next summer, but that’s still a big IF….
I know what you mean Jen about trying to save for a trip. That’s why I mentioned to Nikki about giving it to someone you know you can trust to save it for you. I’m TERRIBLE with money so when I used to want to save for something special, I gave it to my dad. There is no way he’d give it to me without a good excuse and he’d make me jump through hoops and I’d get the third degree trying to get it back. Then he’d ask me if I really “needed” it or if I just “wanted” it. So I knew with him I’d rather save it than to ask him for it back. It just wasn’t worth it.
Believe me, Paul would be this way too!!!!!
Joy that’s a great idea to give money to someone you trust to save it for you. Eric and I will start that with my mom! I didn’t think you were blaming Jason, Nikki. I was just curious about his phobia or whatever!
Thanks for this Nikki! Eric and I are starting to save for our 10 year anniversary now LOL !!!
Nikki, I guess we weren’t too much older! I was 21 and Eric was 20 yrs old when we got married in 2002.
Or no, LOL, I was 22 and he was 21- we both were legally drinking.
Best advice I’ve gotten is, if you want something in life, make small goals to get there, and do it.
If you can save for it, definitely take the 10 year vacation. Trips like that are so rejuvenating for a marriage. Save. Shop wisely for vacation packages, and enjoy!
My advance wedding anniversary wishes. I Hope and wish that it would definitely be a memorable trip for you both.
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