Almost vacation time!

I leave for my yearly trip to Cape Cod on Friday, and I have no stress about it. Every friend I have spends weeks preparing for vacation - planning meals, events, clothing - every detail is covered. I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum. I spent a few years worrying to no end about what to pack for the kids, what to take, what to leave behind. It was all very stressful. I have learned through the years that it's not what you take on vacation that is important - it's what you don't take that can make or break your vacation.

I have always worked on my vacations. Truly, 20 years of being available 24/7 via cell phone and email (well, okay, not 20 yrs of cell phone availability, but 20 years of phone availability and the stress it involves - and not 20 years of emails either, but certainly 20 years of fax availability and then emails - and trust me, fax work was worse than email work.). No break - not really any vacation, either - just same old work in a differnet location. With the added benefit, of course, of driving my family crazy while I ran to the nearest phone booth, area with service, or available computer/fax/printer. This year, I'm leaving that stress behind. Yes - for the first time in 20 years I have trusted in a wonderful associate to take over for me while I am gone.  I will, no doubt, not be able to function and relax without my cell phone handy - but the calls will first go to her to handle the issues of real work. The day to day business will be in her worthy and capable hands.

Yes, you will still see my on The Nest, as I am a bit addicated and it's not considered work, right? It will be early a.m. or late p.m., but I will be here!  I will happily pack one suitcase for me and my hubby, one for my two littlest boys (teens are not coming along - we're not cool enough for them to join us any longer) - and whatever we forget we will buy. Suntan lotion and towels, sheets and towels, and we're set!

Stay tuned to see if I lose my sanity or rejuvenates her my soul this vacation!