There is a strong case to be made that Margo, my wife, partner, editor, co-conspirator and I continue to deliver surprises as we write about our mix of business and vacation. We have both concluded that we can neither prosper nor remain in touch with our faculties if we don’t take advantage of opportunities to enjoy a little downtime.
As we look to reset our expectations for 2023 we have
taken time to look back at what drove us throughout 2022 and the single word
that routinely surfaces is spontaneity. Yes, more than once all it took was a
brief conversation and we turned our plans upside down.
Given how we had already begun filling in the calendar
for 2023 we realized we had money in the “Bank of United” Airlines that, given
the Thanksgiving Holiday looming large, we may as well spend it on tickets to
Hawaii. Flying nonstop from Denver to Maui seemed even more reasonable. Being
able to afford first class travel once again, priceless.
Well first class to Maui, then Polaris class back to
Denver. What more can we say? A return to relaxed, unhurried travel? Obviously,
given the onset of winter, then why not? And we keep racking up those frequent
flyer miles! Who wouldn’t want to spend a week in Maui at the Hyatt Regency on
Kaanapali Beach!
Swaying palms! Tiki torches! And the sound of waves cascading
one on top of the other as they ebb and flow across the sand! Yes, a far cry
from the first snowfall in Windsor, Colorado. But don’t confuse spontaneity
with being impulsive or perhaps worse still, opportunistic.
For as long as Margo and I can remember, we have made
decisions that matter with just a word or two. Thanksgiving is just a one
example where we took a flight somewhere, oftentimes anyway. We followed a
pattern early on in our marriage where we would fly to Singapore for dinner on
multiple occasions. Chili and Pepper Crabs served on the south east coast of
Singapore, anyone? Out Wednesday, recoup Friday, dine Saturday and fly back
Sunday? Count us in!
However, being spontaneous also meant making judgement
calls on the spur of the moment. Forget about packing, for us it often came
down to how best to fit in our work schedule with the demands of relaxation.
Apart from meeting the needs of our clients, posts we needed to make to our
business and social blogs were written only awaiting a last minute observation.
Looking out from our hotel room balcony, we recalled
red umbrellas along the Rhine at Koblenz, views across tropical gardens in
Queensland and yes, Singapore. With our view it could have been anywhere that
is tropical and yet, it was distinctly Hawaiian. It wasn’t the vegetation or
the surf lapping along the sands so much as it was the relaxed demeanor of
everyone we met.
When it came time to settle on flights and lodgings, we
reached out to our good friends, Brian and Jan Kenny. Turns out that they too
would be on Maui at this time of year. Finding a couple of days that overlapped
was all it took for us to confirm our travel plans. The upside was they knew
Kaanapali a lot better than we did and shared with us some of their favorite
dining spots. As for finding a cocktail such as the above made it very easy for
us to thank the Kennys.
When it comes to the Hyatt Regency, don’t expect to be
treated with fine dining. Indeed, whether it is the post-pandemic blues or not,
the dining options were extremely limited. As for quiet spots to simply seat back
and enjoy an evening cocktail we had to wend our way next door to the Hyatt
Residence and find a spot bar-side at their Tiki Bar. I should also mention
that I found a copy of short stories about Hawaii by Jack London?
The sight of swaying palm trees at this time of year,
there was a lot more going on than simply swaying in the breezes. But with each
dawn, these tropical winds subsided. Substantially. A good indication too as to
our mood for the day; cool morning air?
Coffee? Almond Croissant? Of course!
Just the smell of coffee and the taste of almonds with dawn breaking, further reinforced our memories of past downtimes. Perhaps the biggest contribution to our spontaneity comes with our increased awareness that time isn’t standing still. With the global pandemic continuing to remind us that the normality we were experiencing was going to continue for many years to come. Perhaps indefinitely and beyond.
Finding time for each other - without a
long a list of action items arising from our business endeavors - has become an
occasion to celebrate. Perhaps, more: A time to simply watch the sun rise and
to be thankful.
Evenings presented an entirely different vista. The
Hyatt did a good job of ensuring the beauty of the resort could continue to be
appreciated. The distant lights of the township of Lahaina helped frame the
picture. Perhaps spontaneity can be its own reward. Until you make that final
entry on your desktop and watch the confirmation emails arrive there is always
an element of uncertainty. But it doesn’t last long.
It was a simple conversation across the front lawn with
our GM dealer, Steve that resulted in us buying a new Corvette without giving
the decision a second thought. A simple text to Margo and another to Steve and
negotiations ended. At the unveiling of a new Range Rover, Margo caught sight
of a Jaguar F Type V8 Convertible. Our salesman Mark had to literally run to
her and as they walked a deal was concluded.
Maybe it is the little things that keep us whole and no, the Jaguar
isn’t entirely just for Margo nor is the Corvette to be entirely mine, less you
were left to wonder.
The calendar is definitely filling in for 2023 and even
deep into 2024. Margo and I have committed to participating in numerous technology
conferences even as we remain supportive of the clients we have. There has been
much that has been addressed in the media of late about retirement and it is
something Margo and I have been asked about more than once. But what does it
mean in the 2020s?
Being spontaneous, even opportunistic with perhaps a
little impulsiveness thrown in for good measure, it remains a safe bet that we
will continue to do what we like doing. There are those who may suggest that
doing something you love isn’t work, but then again, that supposes there is
just that one thing you like doing.
The picture below sums up how we discuss options. The
route may wind but we have a clear view of the destination. As for the
differences that may arise over spending time ashore or on a ship, the view
along the hotel rooms is not dissimilar to what you see when you look along the
line of verandah cabins on any cruise ship. Whether temporarily dockside or
permanently on land, ultimately it matters little.
Blue Hawaii? It delivered the experience we sought and while the vista may
indeed have been blue, there is nothing blue about our voyage of life.
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