I guess it is almost time for us to hit the road again. (Cue Willie Nelson) We haven't had a real vacation since October so my wife, who loves to cruise, has gone and booked another ride on a big ship. This one will be number 12, or 13 if you count that half-day river cruise in Chattanooga the other day. I don't.

We sail from Norfolk, Virginia and will be gone for ten days. Stops are mostly at islands in the east end of the Carribean. We will go to one or two that we have visited before, but also several new ones.

This is our third, maybe 4th choice. The one to Hawaii was full, as was the one leaving from Tampa, so we were down to Jacksonville and Norfolk, and Norfolk had the better deal. We leave in about a week. Sadly, I will miss the last race of the NASCAR season, but it's a good trade.

They tell me that the toughest thing about being retired is that you can't tell when you are on vacation. But it isn't a vacation without palm trees and trade winds, and I haven't seen any of those around here lately.

I will be thinking of you, especially those of you in cold climates, but don't expect any of those E-cards that say "Wish you were here." The cost of internet access on a ship is astronomical. Besides, I wouldn't have time.

We will not be in steerage this time, but we had to take a room without a window. Not even a porthole. But I spend most of my time up on the pool deck, so who cares?

And if you are wondering if the excitement dims after a dozen cruises, I have to say absolutely not. Probably not even after a hundred.
How"gettin' 'cited"ard