Happy To Be a Wife and Mom: Vacation?

having dinner at our favorite restaurant...

Taking a vacation is a difficult thing for me. I set my vacation time a year in advance, commit to being off no matter who might be due, and then someone that I have served before-comes back as a repeat client and there the vacation goes. I try, each year, to stay firm....but how can I say no to someone I have served before? But we as humans, all need time away from our regular lives, time to relax, time with our spouse, just time.....

So this year, Scott and I decided to 'camp'- in the local area, on a permanent site-this way I will be able to 'get away' yet I am still in the area. The other advantage is we will not have to put up our pool at home and maintain that this year, the campground has a wonderful inground pool. I plan to be found sitting at that pool as much as possible this summer. We also have access to the lake for enjoyment, fishing....
The savings on our pool at home, chemicals, cost of filters, cost of electric running the stuff---helps to pay for the lot rent at the campground.

Were also strongly considering selling our home and moving, so this is a step in that direction. We would like to prepare our home for sale by this fall, and if it would sell, we could use the camper to stay in until we decide what we want to do and where we want to go. We are so ready for a change...

So we spent some time shopping around looking for a inexpensive as possible deal on a camper-found a 5th wheel, and pulled it into the campground of our choice.

Then we had to start working on the campsite. But this work was fun, relaxing for us. We had a lot of the wood for a deck already as well as many other supplies for camping, so we did not have to buy too much to get started. But it would take some time to get things fixed up.

I also had to get a new mattress as the mattresses that come with a camper (used even) is something I just can not have...(gross-as well as very uncomfortable) . So mattress shopping I went.
At one store, I called before I went to ask some questions on their advertised prices. Was told yes, they sell the mattress without the box springs. When I arrived, found out they marked the price way up if you do that-sort of like insurances and health care-fraud in my opinion. So I had sort of given up, but stopped at some small store, just to look. Figured the prices would be way too much (actually most are). I asked the salesman for a deal. Just spoke up front, honest with him. Told him I did not want to spend a 2000 on a mattress for a camper...(the cost of a set that would work for us). I asked him if he had any display mattresses available. Yes actually he did! He showed me one -a thick memory foam, asking over 600 dollars for it originally. Now it was marked down to about 400. (no box springs). He said well...I can go down to--300 and he looked at my 'poker face' and then said maybe 250. I said, ummm -no, but if he would take 225 AND carry it to the truck for me- I would take it. He said yes. There ya go, bargain hunters -you got to work with the price and thankfully have a sales man wanting to make a sale...

So for the camp ground, we spent a day building the deck, I spent a few days there staining and waterproofing it. I also spent a day working on the fire pit, adding bricks around it for safety. Everything was coming together just fine. We have spent some time down there, it has been relaxing. We are planning to enjoy the summer!