Of Vacations and my Secret Vice

I realized a couple of years ago that we needed 2 vacations per year: one for my husband and one for me. The first couple of years we had the one vacation (“his”), but that just didn’t work.

I’m sure I’ve mentioned here that my husband and I met because we both do medieval battle recreation. Every year we attend the largest medieval battle recreation in the world in August in Slippery Rock PA called Pennsic. Its 2 weeks long, but we generally attend for 7 – 10 days. I love getting to hit people with sticks every day for days on end – really, its cheaper than therapy and you get to tell some great stories. “So, I was on the front line in the bridge battle – Gigantor fell and actually fought sitting on top of me…” Priceless. And I love it. But the place we go is a primitive site – basically a flat plain. And group camping in primitive conditions (2 spigots for a couple of hundred folks and bring your own shower) gets pretty tiresome, especially when you have a child to tend to. So I decided I needed a “me” vacation.

My husband is a good man. So 2 years ago when I calmly announced that we were spending a week in a resort on the Mayan Riviera, he was cool with that. This year it’s a house on the outer banks for a week (Hatteras to be more precise). I love his vacation, but I need something that’s relaxing in a different way as well. It works.

Which brings me to my vice. It’s pretty tough to keep sunscreen on continuously for 10 days, especially when you may be down at the battlefield sweating for a few hours. So I started going to the tanning bed 4 years ago. I usually start around April 15th, and tan until we leave for Pennsic (early-mid August). I don’t get super dark – just a good enough coat that I won’t suffer from sunburn if I’m exposed to the sun for an hour or so. Since then, I’ve never gotten a sunburn. But I have mixed feelings – I know tanning isn’t good for you, but burning isn’t either. And tanning is a little pricey. I like the way I look with a tan. I guess it sounds dumb, but I feel a little guilty for doing it – that’s why I called it a “vice.” I’m trying to decide whether to do it this year again or not. I dunno.

We have begun discussing “my” vacation for next year. I want to spend a couple of days hiking the App Trail. We have a nice section here in NC and we could do it fairly cheaply. Since we wouldn’t be up there a super long time, we could get away with using cheaper equipment. My son is totally excited – my husband is resigned. But he’s willing, bless him.

Last night was chest & back, with a hard 15 minutes on the elliptical. This morning was a great 2 mile walk. Tonight I am finishing upper body. Since we have team building out of the office tomorrow and I don’t have to be there until 9 am, I am planning a short “long” run tomorrow morning. Maybe 5 or 6 miles, with a real long run on Sunday.