To go to Florida or California?

Florida: My friends and some family are there. I’d spend most of the time busy running around and meeting people. I can take the train there.

California: My grandma and cousins live there. My grandma is very dear to me and not getting any younger. I would spend all of my time in one place enveloped in 2nd hand cigarette smoke. I would have to take a plane and more vacation to get there.

Trying to decide where to go this year, if I go anywhere at all. 4 weeks ago

I would love to go to Florida for vacation. I would like to visit Orlando, Miami, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, my family in Bradenton and much more! I found a brochure for a trip through Florida and I would love to do that! 4 months ago

Looks like my bf will be put on a transplant list so traveling right now is not an option as we can not predict when the organ will become available.

I’m homesick, but GF’s health is the most important thing. I would hate to be out of town and have him in the hospital. 4 months ago

Car problems and boyfriend in the hospital have kept me from visiting Florida these last few months. I’m hoping (again) to go there, this time planning on February of next year. 5 months ago

Car is having problems which is a wake up call that I should be saving money on an emergency fund and not going on vacation.

Maybe next year, since I can carry over 1 week of vacation time from this year to next year. 8 months ago

A good paycheck should be received by end of September, making vacation time possible in October. 8 months ago

I’m shooting for October or November this year to visit. I know it will be hard with memories of my mom everywhere because I haven’t been to my home state since her memorial, but I need to go. It’s been over 2 years.

Money shouldn’t be an issue. I’ll be taking the train, which is only a little over $100 round trip. Plus I’ll be staying with a mix of friends and family who will be sure I’m fed, so spending money isn’t a big issue.

Vacation time isn’t an issue. I should have about a week left of vacation, though I may just stay 5 days.

Biggest issue: Me. Will I be emotionally ready? 9 months ago

June 1998 and June 2003 – both times with my wife and 2 boys. 9 months ago

I have an upcoming chance to either drive down or drive back home with a friend of mine who is coming to visit from Florida, so then I would only have to pay for a one-way trip by either train or plane. The problem is that I may not be ready. My mom died almost 2 years ago, which is how long it’s been since I visited. Too many memories waiting for me there. I ask myself if I really want to spend vacation time on a trip I probably won’t enjoy. Maybe I should save the time for later in the year to visit my grandma and cousins in California, a trip I would actually enjoy. I also am not sure who I would stay with: crash at various friends’ houses (they have jobs to go to and I would feel like a burden), with my step-father (and his new girlfriend – a whole other issue in itself), my legal father (who I’m not really close to), or a hotel (added expense).

So anyways, it’s up in the air right now. I also worry about finding someone to cover for me during that time; granted, I have vacation time but I can’t take the time if no one is willing to cover for me (not to mention we are short staffed right about now).

Oh, and it’s really, really hot in FL right now, another reason to maybe not visit. Hmmm. 12 months ago

Maybe next month I can go there. 14 months ago

And I really want to see her sometime this year. :D 14 months ago

Due to a change at work, I may not have the option to take vacation for a while. I had planned to go to Florida to visit family and a few friends in January or February, but will hold off for a while. With the economy in it’s current state, I’m more than happy to have a job. 17 months ago

I hadn’t spoken to my (legal) father in awhile and gave him a call a few months ago. I’m slowly trying to rebuild my relationship with him. I don’t really like him as an individual person, but he did help raise me into who I am now. I do love and admire my stepmother and found out through my father that she has not been doing well with her illness as of late; she has cerebral palsy. I can’t go this year due to not having any vacation, but plan to visit next year if only to see her, my father, and my stepfather; maybe a few friends too. I’ll probably take the train there. I know it will be hard after losing my mom; I haven’t visited since her memorial. I know, though, that visiting is something I need to do, even if I don’t want to. 18 months ago