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Saturday, February 9, 2019

The Vacationer(s)


“Are we going to miss our flight?” For someone who was so reluctant to agreeing to this trip, there sure was a heavy amount of fear laced throughout that question. About a mere nine weeks ago, the Hunter and I gave the go ahead for our travel agent (another first) to book our all inclusive vacation in Cancun, Mexico. That’s right, vacation. I hadn’t been on one of these babies since circa 2011, which was a whole other lifetime ago: I was a traveler, not a vacationer. And since I’m in mid paragraph of complaining about what most people merely yearn to do, I’ll just take it one step further and admit that my hesitancy to book this seven day retreat came from financing or there lack of, in that the expenses didn’t come out of my bank account, but the Hunters. That’s right folks, he paid my way after my insistent promise [on repeat] that I’d pay him back immediately.


And from beginning to end the trip was nothing less than incredible.

We flew into Vancouver in the afternoon where the Hunter and I walked sloppily around China town tasting all it had to offer. From trying cray fish and noodles to adventuring out to find a Rachel Hollis’s highly recommended book [by both my sister and the Hunter’s sister] Girl, Wash your face it was such a simple experience on how much fun adventuring new territory will be with the Hunter with future endeavors. We met up with the Hunters family the following morning, where our trip hit our only real bit of turbulence as we only just made it to our gate at the airport – apparently traveling with eleven people is a bit more tricky than solo travel struggles, with larger luggage, more personality and bigger laughter.

The resort was almost as beautiful as our ocean view from our room and coffee never tasted more delicious than sipping it from the deck of our room. Highlights included trying paddle boarding and partner yoga. The Hunter argues that there should be a class called Competitive Yoga, as he struggled with his patience as we struggled with some of the poses, while I laughed the entire time. I was also pretty proud that I could withstand his weight when I was encouraged to do the cat/cow pose while I supported his upper body with my own. I had a glorious time and, as always, he said he was happy that I was happy.

We were lucky enough to take a family trip, where the eleven of us had our private catamaran, which was truly a once in a lifetime experience; once we got accustomed to the rough sea (hello gravel), we enjoyed lounging on the front of the boat where we caught some waves and rays and also had four dolphins great us, which was probably one of my top five moments of Mexico.

Our evenings were spent sipping sweet beverages and chatting with the Hunter's cousins well into the night. The days were spend walking the beach and lounging in cabanas where I got to know the Hunter's world travelling Aunt (woman after my own heart) and quiet but catty Uncle. The three kids bounced around between adults, where they’d sometimes go snorkeling with the Hunter (forever a water guy), I'm proud to say that I put on a pretty intense handstand competition in the pool with the kids and I.
On the morning we were heading to the airport the one of the boys told me how he didn’t want to see the Hunter and I leave. I told him how sad I was too, but quickly reminded him that we would get all eleven of us together soon for a pizza making session accompanied by popcorn and a screening of all the photos we took from the last seven days. I told the Hunter several times in Meixco how wonderful it was to be able to spend the time to get to know his people all that much more. Thanks to globe trotting I’ve made so many connections with people all over the world, so for me, it's a new perspective to spend so many intimate hours together with people in a different country and this time 'round, actually know that we would see them again, and soon.

Ciao Bella

It's a hang on kinda ride, whispin' in through space and time,
Rockin' this big old rock just tryn'a have fun
So let's drink another beer, here's to another year, 
Let's take another crazy trip around the sun
- Kenny Chesney, Trip Around the Sun