SUSTAINABILITY -- ONE YEAR LATER

If you read THIS post and THIS one, then you know that a year ago my husband and I enjoyed a 2-week vacation at a very beautiful all-inclusive resort in Mexico.  It was two weeks of pure pampered bliss, and one of the best vacations we had ever taken.

It was also, quite simply, a vacation that changed my life.  How so?  Let me explain:

Once we arrived, my husband was busy right away exploring the resort, the pools, the beach, the restaurants, the activities... on the other hand, I was exhausted and all I wanted to do was sleep. And honestly, that is mostly what I did the first few days.

When I woke up on the morning of our 4th day there, it took me a few minutes to recognize the wonderful feeling of being rested! It was actually a rather shocking revelation, and definitely made me think, "If it takes me THREE DAYS to get rested up from just LIVING, then something needs to change!"

So I re-examined my life and my priorities, and decided then and there that when I got home, I would implement changes to hopefully prevent that kind of bone-crushing exhaustion from ever "taking over" again.

And that's what I did.

In ways large and small, I took practical steps to make my daily life more *sustainable*.  Of course there were certain obligations and responsibilties that didn't change (my job, my home, my husband!) and we could all use more hours in a day, but I was surprised by all the things that I could shift or rearrange. And by the difference these changes would make.

At the top of my list was, clearly, the goal to get more sleep.  That is hard for me, but I made it my #1 priority change.  I am now in bed typically 8 - 9 hours before I need to get up.  That difference alone  has been staggering! Of course that means better evening planning, so that I have everything done that needs done well ahead of bedtime.

Another strategy was our evening dinner.  Meals and good food are important to us, but we began doing a lot of our cooking on the weekends, instead of cooking every evening.  These weekend menus are fun to plan, very versatile, and great for mixing and matching all week long, for EASY, delicious weeknight dinners.

I tried to become more aware of not wasting time... keeping better lists of groceries and errands and combining trips so that more could be accomplished in less time, etc.

I continue to monitor myself... paying attention to my comfort level and my limitations.  I realize that adjustments and "tweaks" will probably be ongoing.  My mantra remains "sustainability", and not ever allowing that deep rut of exhaustion to take over.

What have I gained?  More time with my husband, my family, my friends. More time to read, play with my pets, relax. More long baths, more long walks, more time to think and play and enjoy the things that matter most.

What tips or strategies do you have for keeping your lifestyle sustainable?

SUSTAINABILITY, Part 2

If you read THIS post ("Sustainability -- or, Going the Distance"), then you know what we're talking about.

Sustainability is, to me, the ability to consistently live our life in a pace and pattern that is realistic; having the energy to do what we need and want to do, without feeling perpetually overworked, overloaded, exhausted, or stressed.

Yes, of course, we can summon the adrenaline and do something for a short period of time that we would not be able to do indefinitely.  And sometimes this unpredictable, crazy thing called "life" requires that.  But that should be the exception, rather than the rule, of our lives.

After all, you can only "burn the candle at both ends" for so long... eventually you will be burned.

In my opinion, sustainability entails making wise, well-thought-out decisions, large and small, that are not knee-jerk or focused on "instant gratification" -- but rather, on what's better for the "long haul."  I think that some of us may be more hardwired for success in this area than others, but I believe it is something any of us can learn.

Although I already strive to live a simple, uncomplicated, quiet (although at times very busy) life, I knew I could make some additional beneficial changes.  As I mentioned in Part 1, I made the decision on vacation to set some goals and make some changes when I got home to sustain those blissful feelings of restfulness and relaxation.

My personal goals?
To exercise more (back on the morning routine, before work, which sounds grueling but really does work best for me),  to lose that pesky 5 pounds I had resigned myself to made peace with, and most importantly -- to get more sleep.  Surprisingly, the "getting more sleep" is the hardest, but that is my priority, because I have learned that all the rest of my goals depend and hinge on that.

I have a set M-F work schedule, so to "get more sleep",  I have to go to bed earlier.  There's simply no other option.  BUT, to be successful with that, I have to start winding down about 8 pm... and that means kitties fed and litter cleaned, house tidied up, computer and TV off,  PJs on, face washed, teeth flossed and brushed, bed turned down, alarm set, phone charging, clothes chosen and set out for tomorrow.   It's much easier said than done.  But I'm trying -- and so far, so good!

Now what about my friend's question, "But not everything is sustainable.  What about enjoying the moment?"  This is what I told her:  Enjoying the moment, to me, means taking time to really absorb and appreciate the beauty of the "here" and the "now."  That's a wonderful thing, and sustainability is not in conflict with that.  A happy and well-balanced life has plenty of room for both.

In fact, as we were having that long-distance text discussion, I was poolside in Cancun, absolutely enjoying the moment of warm sun, white sand, blue Caribbean water, and the delicious Mango Margarita beside me!

Photo credits:  HERE and  HERE.

SUSTAINABILITY - OR, GOING THE DISTANCE

My husband and I recently returned from a wonderful 2 week Caribbean vacation.  We stayed HERE (Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun), a gorgeous "6 gold apple" resort on the Riviera Maya, a little south of Cancun.  

We both work very hard and lead busy lives.  And, for a variety of reasons, the last few months have been especially stressful and busy.  We were long overdue for some much needed R and R.

Now we enjoy all different kinds of vacations... adventure vacations, cruise vacations, visiting-friends-or-family vacations.  (In fact, we've never had a bad vacation!)  But when planning this vacation, we chose an "all inclusive" getaway, an especially relaxing, low key kind of vacation.  

Typically with an all-inclusive vacation, you can be as busy or as *lazy* as you want to be.  Now Sapphire was no exception. All included and all on-site were sailing, kayaking, water aerobics, beach and pool volley ball, Zumba, yoga, Pilates, target shooting, archery, pool games and contests, cooking classes, bingo, bicycle rides and tours, music, karaoke, dancing, shows, as well as a myriad of other activities and entertainment. 

We arrived on a Wednesday afternoon, after a long day of travel.  And although it was wonderful to be there, and I was certainly enjoying the warm weather, beautiful beach and grounds, and delicious food, honestly, I did a lot of sleeping, napping, resting and dozing the first few days, barely dragging myself up to eat (but oh, I did, I assure you!) 

I knew I had been tired before the trip, but it wasn't until a few days into our vacation that I realized just how exhausted I had been. I woke up on Sunday morning and noticed something unusual. I felt ...different somehow.  Rested. Refreshed. It was a amazing feeling!  in fact, I almost didn't recognize it!  I told my husband excitedly, "I'm not tired!"  I honestly  couldn't remember the last time I wasn't tired.  Yes, I had actually forgotten what that feels like.  That really made me think. 

BUT, what does this have to do with "sustainability" (the title of this blog post), you ask?  Well, this:  It seems obvious to me that if it takes a person almost 4 days to get rested up from LIFE, and if that person doesn't even at first recognize the feeling of being rested, then clearly something has to change!

Which caused me to think seriously about my everyday life.  Most of us have a lot on our plates, and too few hours in our day.  Many of us have stresses and problems.  And true, there is a lot in all our lives that cannot be changed; but certainly there is still a lot that can. I made a decision that day on vacation to commit to some simple lifestyle changes at home to sustain those blissful feelings of restfulness and well-being. 

I was sharing my thoughts with a good friend who asked,  "What exactly do you mean by 'sustainability'?"

Good question.  To me, sustainability is the ability to create and maintain a positive life change.  Positioning and giving yourself every advantage possible "go the distance",  the "long haul." Not everything is in our control, of course, but much is.  Sometimes far more than we may realize.

My friend then said, "But not everything is sustainable. What about enjoying the moment?"

Another good question -- and I have some thoughts on that, too.  (Of course!)  Stay tuned for "Sustainability, Part 2"!

Our favorite spot.  Many happy hours spent here!

To view a Photo Journal of our vacation,  please look HERE.

Holy Vastness, Batman! TRAVEL: the Grand Canyon!

Well, it has been on my Bucket List  ;o) for awhile now... the Grand Canyon.  We flew over it once on a flight to the west coast... but that only served to whet our appetites to see it "up close and personal".  A recent vacation "out west" gave us that opportunity.

Traveling with our daughter and son-in-law (hereinafter lovingly referred to as "the kids"!), we just got home from 2+ weeks in Nevada and Arizona.  We went last year and had such a good time (links: HERE and HERE), we decided to get outta the PA cold and "do it again" this year!  The kids had never been to Vegas, and Barry was VERY eager to see another Cirque Du Soleil show... so Vegas (for a few days) was our first stop.

We had a great time; we loved the show (Cirque's "O" at the Bellagio).   My boy sat as still as a stone, eyes wide, mesmerized by the show!

We stayed at New York, New York, which was very nice, and quite affordable.

Although, Travel Tip #1: there was a $15/night mandatory "resort fee", which was never mentioned or charged until check-in. Not all Vegas hotel add that charge (although many do) - so check first; it can make a difference when you are shopping for the best deal.

AND... no matter what the reservation clerk tells you, the shuttle to and from the airport is NOT free!

New York New York, Las Vegas

So, what do non-gamers do in Vegas?  We shop and dine and enjoy all the sights, sounds, and attractions of the city that never sleeps.

We rented a car, and after Vegas, we drove to the Flagstaff area to visit one of our daughter's oldest and dearest friends.  They hadn't seen each other in several years, and it was a sweet and heartwarming reunion.

From there, we drove to Williams, AZ, and after spending the night, we took the very scenic Grand Canyon Railway to the canyon.

OK, color me speechless! I knew it would be beautiful... and vast... and amazing... but really??! I just didn't realize HOW beautiful... HOW vast... and HOW amazing! Photos simply cannot capture the panoramic vista that our eyes saw... but I tried!!!

 

 

My husband read somewhere that the most common injury at the canyon is squirrel bites.  Really!
*ouch!*  Cute little buggers can actually be rather unfriendly, I guess!!!   

After our day at the Grand Canyon, we drove to the Phoenix area for the rest of our vacation.   My sister has a lovely home there, complete with a gorgeous in-ground pool. We shopped, and ate (are you noticing a vacation pattern here?!) visited, made some new friends, bobbed around in the pool A LOT, and otherwise just relished in the warm and sunshiny R and R.

A cute kitty-lovin' sign I saw at a flea market.  NOOOOO, I didn't BUY it, I just took a picture of it!!! 

A display from the (very interesting) Wickenburg Museum:

 










As before, I LOVED the Arizona landscape...

...and those crazy-gorgeous sunsets!

One night we went to Western Trails, a small community rodeo.  It was lots of fun.  (My sister is getting quite *south-westernized* living part of the year in Arizona.  She is even wearing cowboy boots now!)

Anwyay, it just kills me how some of those bull riders get thrown off those bulls, land HARD, come up obviously in pain, groaning, limping and... smiling from ear-to-ear! 





We were on vacation a little over 2 weeks, and we were quite successful in getting blissfully refreshed and relaxed.  Finally it was time to go -- which honestly, was OK with us.  We'd had a WONDERFUL time, had enjoyed every day... but "real life" (and our darling kitties, of course!) were waiting for us back home. 

And on that note, before I close this post, may I offer Handy-Dandy Travel Tip #2:

Take your passport, even when you are only planning to travel domestically.

Why, you ask?  Your driver's license will provide the necessary photo ID, true, BUUUUT... if you (like us) ever volunteer for a bump, having your passport can open up additional possibilities for re-routing you home.  We were considering an offered bump, but there were no other (domestic) seats available to Pittsburgh for at least 36 hours.  However, we could have potentially been routed through Toronto and gotten home HOURS earlier, if we'd had our passports.  In the end, they didn't need us for the bump after all... but it was a good lesson learned -- for next time!

Back Home After Cruise Vacation (or, Time Sure Flies When You're Having Rum!)

My husband and I just got home from a wonderful vacation.  We escaped well below freezing PA temperatures to board Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas for an almost-2-week long Caribbean cruise.  Can you say REEEELAXING?!  Ohmyword... we had such a good time.  Just what the doctor ordered!

The ship sailed from Baltimore, which was a new departure port for us.  It was very convenient, though, (only a 6 hour drive)... plus my sister only lives about 30 minutes from the port.  So we went early and spent the pre-cruise weekend with her (VERY nice!), and then she took us to the port on embarkation day and picked us up when we returned.  So easy breezy!  AND, we took my mom along with us, so while we were on the cruise, she had a wonderful 2 week vacation with her (firstborn!) daughter.  Oh yeah, I LOVE a good plan!

Our itinerary:

























So if you've ever been on a cruise, you know that one of the beauties of a cruise vacation is that there's something for everyone; and the delicious choice to be as *busy* or as *lazy* as you want to be.  The typical order of MY day was sleep in a little... eat (a lot)... nap a little... read a lot... play a lot...  then eat again.  LOL!  We made some new friends -- and actually ran into some OLD FRIENDS, Stanley and Rochelle, who had moved from PA to Georgia several years ago!!!  (Crazeee small world, huh?!)  The cruise was 13 stress-free days without alarm clocks, schedules, "to-do" lists,  laundry, cooking, cleaning or telephones a'ringing... just total pampering and "down time" -- and lots and lots of laughing.

Part of this blog post was actually even written in Tortola, sitting in a tiki hut on the beach (yes, with free wi-fi!), live Caribbean music playing behind me, a cold drink in hand...and my li'l Dell netbook.  My boy was off exploring the cove with his metal detector... and came back smiling with a pocket full o' finds. 

Now, how about some pics?!   OK, first, a few photos of the ship:

Top deck:














Pool deck:












Centrum/atrium area:

The beautiful Orpheum Theater (we spent many happy hours here!)












The lovely "My Fair Lady" dining room:
(We spent many happy hours HERE, too!)

(Above photo is from Cruise News Daily; more photos and information on the ship can be found there.)

Now for some "off-ship" photos... 
A charming Starbucks in San Juan, PR.  (I got free wifi and a yummy coffee drink there!)


















 Sailing away from Puerto Rico:














Tortola:














Samana, Dominican Republic:














St. Thomas:














St. Maarten:














Festive Caribbean art for sale:














I always LOVELOVELOVE coming back to the cabin after dinner to find our room (magically) tidied up, the bed turned down, and a towel critter waiting for us!  Sooooo stinkin' CUTE!

And my favorite!  How cute is THAT BAT?!! 



















We had dinner one evening at Chops Grille, the ship's specialty restaurant.  *DELICIOUS*!

We watched the sun set during dinner.  (Very romantic!)

We missed family and friends back home, and the kitties, of course. We did receive some very welcome texts and e-mails from home... so we knew all was well. But I'm telllin' ya'... if not for those adorable furkids waiting at home for us, we probably coulda stayed on that ship forever!

So, yep, we had a wonderful time, and came home relaxed, recharged and ready for "real life" again.  The main problem with reality, though, as my friend Perry says, is that it's "so... real" !!!  Yeah, he's sure spot-on there!  Vacation is undeniably much more *fun*... but alas, it doesn't pay the bills (or feed the kitties!)



Top photo credit: Enchantment of the Seas.  Other ship photo credits: here, and here.