Va/Staycations

Great topic @2011panc I am Scott and this brought back some wonderful memories for me! When my wife and I were first married we could only afford to stay at home so we would take off and drive for half a day to see some area of our state we did not know, then visit and head back home for the night. We really enjoyed many of the small towns we visited, the home cooking we got to enjoy in so many spots, and the scenery! We'd always watch for those quirky things like oversized cement animals, etc. The picture is of a motel made in the shape of a Muskie! The folks we met were by and large the best part of each of these trips. Later in life I was lucky to work a 14 state upper Midwest region for a nonprofit and I vowed to not take any Interstate highways that I didn't have to. I was lucky to see an amazing amount of off the beaten track middle America over those 8 years.

Later when we were able to add some comfort and distance to our family trips more often than not we picked out of the way spots. My wife passed away after a terrible war with brain cancer, but not before she introduced me to the woods of northern Minnesota. This is now my favorite place -- other than in the winter and I relish the people, smaller towns, and great outdoors of that area!

Thanks for 'just wanting to talk' here.

Strength, courage, and peace!

@IndianaScott , thank you for responding. The Muskie is fantastic! Did you feel a little like Jonah? lol Like you, we still pick less-traveled areas for trips. My condolences on the loss of your wife. I am glad you have the good memories that you do.

@2011panc
Thank you - for this discussion! You have nudged me into moments of memories that I had forgotten:-)

Growing up, I remember the day trips that my family took - the kind with the paper maps, the opened windows and non air conditioned cars, seat rotation with my 4 brothers to prevent squabbles, the back roads were the main roads, the roadside picnic basket lunches, and the occasional soda fountain cherry coke!

As a grown up, my husband and I took our 2 boys hiking, tent camping because they loved being outdoors. And at the time it was budget friendly.
I am in central Kentucky with many interesting things within a 3 hour driving radius for us. We have been fortunate to visit natural wonders such as Mammoth Cave with its magnificent cave formations and the unbelievable darkness when the lights are extinguished for a few moments inside; Red River Gorge where we saw the result of this river's power over many years to form this geologic natural wonder-even saw Daniel Boone's name carved in a rock with a plaque and a heavy chain-link fence so nobody could disturb the area; Cumberland Falls in all seasons, and all weather conditions, in floods and in drought, and before and after altered trails caused by landslides and falling cliffs; we have picnicked at the Constitution State Park where Kentucky became a state; we have toured historic homes and the historic cathedrals as well attending venues at ultra modern structures; we have listened to concerts by world famous as well as local artists.

Our boys are grown. We can see that they also have an appreciation for where they have grown up. Just as our parents instilled a love for nature around us, I can see that we have passed the appreciation to our boys.

We like to travel away from home, now that we are retired. But we are always happy to return home, and to enjoy the treasures in our own neighborhood! We don't camp anymore and we don't cook over a camp stove, but the car still knows the way to our favorite places with so many happy memories.

Rosemary

@2011panc I loved your post along with others. But I am sad and very resentful. As a child my parents and I did alot of tent camping. Now a wife of 48 years, we never go Anywhere, maybe 2 camp trips of our own (disaster) and three with church groups, those were fun because of other people, campfires and singing songs. My husband doesn't have an imaginative bone in his body, can,t put up a tent, don't have enough money, no longer own any camping supplies and I love to camp. Fresh smell of coffee in the morning, the smell of pines, the screech of bluejays ect. I just turned 70 and my husband is 79. Though I think at our age with mobility issues, a rented RV might be a better choice. Can't go anywhere, stuck in our mobile home as though we are just waiting to die. I've planned every vacation we've been on. I used to sit at work in the lunch room crying because I felt my husband had cement feet. I'm sorry for the griping but the ache inside is unbearable. Now with Fibro and spinal pain, it's like life is over for me. my husband can't walk ten feet without having to stop and take a breath. Just trying to honor my marriage vows.victorious69

@virtuous69 Not to be concerned as complaining can be cathartic at times. You are not alone in your feelings. I also have fibro, scoliosis, DDD neck and lumbar. Plenty of time to do things I once enjoyed and a body that is a pain to carry with me as I do the necessities. I have always been a hard worker and even when I tell myself I can do things I soon realize many things I cannot. Still ambulatory and still can draw and paint some. Far better off than many. I was once married to a man like you describe. Nearly every thing was woman's work.