Lucky to Vacation

On my way home from Maine today I heard a story on NPR about vacationing. It said that 25% of Americans have not had a vacation in the last five years. It made me incredibly sad to think that so many people do not get a chance to go away rest, relax, discover new things and see new places.
I count my lucky stars that I not only get to make memories with my family and go do new things, but that I have the best husband on earth who lets me go away and spend time with old friends while he works. I wish that everyone could find away to go on holiday, as the British say.

There is a reason Maine is called “vacation land” but this trip was not so much a vacation as a visit. My friend Warren is such a great host. It helps that he has a Howard Johnson’s literally built into his house, but without the mid-century modern orange and turquoise motel rooms. My trip involved seeing eight different friends, making many meals, driving up and down the coast, antiquing, and visiting Warren’s booth at the Rockland Market place at least seven times.

Warren has always been into antiques, but the need to recycle some of his mother’s furniture as well as collections he has, precipitated the need to have an easier way to sell things. Thank goodness that both Shannon and Julie got into the job of going through Warren’s attic to help determine what should go to be sold next.  
All week we would prep new dressers, or old tool boxes, sets of dishes or hand crank antique ice cream makers and carry them over to the Marketplace. Each day it was a surprise to see what had sold. And then restock the booth so it was always full. It was not a normal vacation activity, but one that I quickly got addicted to. I was often surprised at what would sell and what did not. It was a good thing I flew to Maine and had no way to bring anything home because I really liked the glass topped coffee table with the soap box derby red metal wheel base.
Vacations don’t have to be a trip to Disney World. Sitting on the front porch talking to friends can sometimes be the best vacation there is. My trip was not relaxing because we would stay up much too late and then because it is summer in Maine where the sun comes up at 4:45 I would not ever get a chance to sleep in even with the curtains drawn. But despite the lack of sleep and the playing store at the market place it was a great vacation.  

I wish everyone had a friend like Warren who welcomes you into his home. But now it is great to be back at my own house, with my own Russ and Shay Shay. Perhaps I can now get some rest and relaxation from my vacation and begin to dream where I want to go next.