SPONTANEOUS
And creating new memories...
My friend was given one hour to decide if she would accept the offer.
In a mere sixty minutes she could be embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity rather than spending another Monday night on the couch in front of the TV. There were so many reasons to say yes … It was a first-class ticket! The seats lie down completely flat! It was a five-star hotel! She would be within walking distance to incredible restaurants, entertainment, and nightlife! Besides that, she had vacation days from work saved up—and she had never been to London!
And it was a FREE trip!
She called me to talk it through, and I was remembering my New Years resolution to “Just Say Yes.” Or was my resolution to have more fun? I can’t remember, but it doesn’t matter because I said, “Yes! Do it! Go for it!” I even added, “You may never get an offer like this again!” When we finished the call, I was so excited for my friend. I had never been to London either.
Thirty minutes later my phone rang again. As it turns out, the trip was ALMOST free. The first-class ticket that normally cost $8,000 would be $800, and she would still have to pay the booking fees and hotel room taxes for the week, which totaled nearly $1,000. Surely, she would need to eat … and maybe see a show? She couldn’t go to London and not see a show! I could tell she was in the car. She had packed a bag and was enroute to the airport.
As I hung up the phone, I wondered what I would do if I were offered a spur of the moment, almost-free trip to London? Did you wonder about that, too? I’d like to think I would say “yes,” but since I’ve been traveling vicariously though my friends for years, refusing their offers to join them in Italy, Cancún, or Niagara Falls, I’m not so sure. I’ve always been practical and frugal, especially with decisions for myself. When the kids had an opportunity, needed new sports equipment, or wanted to go on the class field trip, I would whip out the checkbook.
What was I waiting for? The kids were on their own, and “off the books,” as my husband likes to say. Our finances have changed, and for the better.
Except for the past few months … I’ve been spending a lot of money, which I thought would be fun, but it’s also been a little discouraging because I’m spending a small fortune on house repairs. It’s true that our house was damaged by a hurricane, and we did get some insurance money, but one repair has led to another, and another, and uncovered years of deferred maintenance.
My ideal of having the time and the money to do the things I’ve wanted to do now that the kids have flown the nest has been thwarted again! But perhaps only temporarily, because I meant it when I declared this was my year to have more fun!
So, yes! I will say yes if I’m given the opportunity for an ALMOST free spur-of-the-moment trip. I will be more spontaneous!
