Last week was a four day week (off on Monday) but it seemed kiiiind of long. February slump is a thing…

Delights

1. Messages from Michelle’s calendar, like this one:

2. Exercise: I delighted myself by going to the Y on Wednesday (cardio+weights), Thursday (swim) and Saturday (cardio and weights). Also, I had physical therapy for my right knee and that felt like a workout.

3. Emerging markets: started investing into an emerging markets index fund – the idea has been on my radar for a while now. Glad I saw it through this week.

4. NOT a delight but something interesting: America’s Next Top Model documentary on Netflix. T and I used to watch ANTM back in 2012… This documentary went into depth of making ANTM and the cringe of behind the scenes. Former contestants and judges talked about the grueling process the girls were put through. The cruelty of reality TV is astounding.

5. Spring break road trip is booked! The kids and I will do a road trip to Myrtle Beach, So. Carolina by way of Richmond, VA. Leave on 03/26, drive five hours to Richmond, VA, overnight there. Next day, another five hour drive to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Come back, again, via an overnight in Virginia, on 04/04. Last year we visited Chincoteague, VA, Outer Banks N. Carolina and Kennett Square, PA.

6. Memorial day camping trip is booked, too. Not too far from our house – about one hour drive. Two summers ago we went camping all the way upstate New York, about two hours away. But they didn’t have any openings this year so a NJ state park it is.

Decisions on summer

1 Italy or no Italy? I was all SET on our 14 day road trip to northern Italy. Milan to lake Garda, to Dolomites, to Lake Bled, to Abano Terme, to Venice. Leave home from Venice. At the moment I am on the FENCE because #economy and volatility of my husband’s job but still… I know someone whose dad waited to travel when he was retired and he died within three months of retiring…

2 If not Italy, then…what? I have always wanted to see the Deep South. Tennessee, the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi? Emerald coast? This road trip also costs money but may be cheaper. BUT: I will put a lot of wear and tear on my car since I will have to drive from New Jersey. And it will put a lot of wear and tear on ME to drive so much.

3 summer camp. Technically, we don’t HAVE to book any camp since I am home in the summer. However, do my kids want to spend the whole summer with me? Probably not. Do I want to spend the whole summer with THEM? Also no. Camp breaks up the routine, and it has a pool. The question is: when? End of June, July or August? Camp is $400 per kid, per week so multiply that by 2. $800 per week, for both. For comparison’s sake…An apartment in Hyères, south of France is $2500 per month. Less than camp, per week. Of course, you have to get there by plane so an additional 3K.

4 Russia trip. My mother is adamant that I should NOT visit this summer. It sounds terrible but she has a good point. Dad is doing okay (considering), my brother has stepped up a lot. The flight is grueling. Getting to Chelyabinsk, Russia takes two full days, and not only it is confusing physically, it is also a total mind f**k mentally. Last year I went through Türkiye, the trip was okay but I felt disoriented for days. Also, the cost. If I go through the Middle East, it is surprisingly cheaper: Newark to Doha, Doha to Moscow, and back: 2K. Then I just have to buy internal plane tickets Moscow-Chelyabinsk.

The larger question is- could I live with the guilt of not going?…

5 OR our summer looks like this: the kids go to camp, and I get a summer job, not related to teaching. I have not looked at any of the summer jobs available, and, honestly, I don’t want to. I want to enjoy my summer and not work. But I also do not want two months with nothing.

Pic on the cover: my daughter and I during my husband’s birthday dinner.

Have you started thinking about summer yet?

What should I do?