Staycation Nation

I have barely traveled this year. I mean, I've been on the move, sure. Been busier than ever before, yes. Been hustling and hauling it from one point to the next, every chance I get, but yea. No. I haven't really vacationed and gone off my schedule and thrown myself off the grid. Not so much.

This has been the case with a couple of friends of mine, as well. In fact, in a conversation the other night over dinner, these friends of mine, a couple, stated that they had barely had a chance to get away and "recover," if you will. We all sat around laughing about our lackluster lot until one of us said it: "We need to plan a small getaway with no worries. You know? A Stay-cation." Dingdingding! Ringalingaling! Done. Score. Perfect. The eagle landed.

Why hadn't we thought of this before??

Last weekend, they packed up and rode out to aloft Chesapeake to staycation for the weekend. I wrote up a list of favorite local spots like restaurants, spas, breakfast joints and art galleries. I sent them to The Chesapeake Arboretum and The Northwest River Park. They spent at least five hours in total, lounging by the pool with their laptops, making new music playlists and randomly scouring the web for nothing at all. They drank martinis at w xyz bar each night and overdid it, just a little, since they'd be taking the lift home. Basically, they vegged, vibed and totally tuned out of their usual lives.

At the end of the weekend, I checked in on them and asked how it was going. They were in total blob-dom, totally chilled out and chillin':

"QoV," they gushed, "this was absolutely the best thing we could possibly have done for ourselves. We never want to leave. We feel...Chesapeake'd!"

And it hit me. This whole plan is brilliant. And why aren't more of us doing it? Really?

So, you know, I'm just saying. I'm just throwing it out there because that's basically what I do best: If you've had one of those landlocked sort of years and, let's say maybe you're starting to feel faded and it's happening faster than you can handle, well, I'd recommend you, you know...think about getting away, even if it means just swinging around the corner.

Until then, wait for their review of their little Staycation weekend in the coming week and live vicariously through their time:

www.altdaily.com

Mwah.

-QoV

Number One

"There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results." -Anon

When we begin something new, when we choose a new direction, there is often that little burst of za za zoom that gets us right through those early stages of change and disorientation. That's convenient, really. That excitement is necessary. It's the bee sting to the horses behind and, I mean it: It's real. But it goes away. And then...then what?

When we make a resolution and we begin a new path, we don't know that it might be winding or wooly, covered in glass or twigs or tar. We don't know, but we set out. We? Commit.

Sure, it's a new year, and we've made some promises to ourselves to step up the game in ways that we know we're ready to do. We want to keep getting better and the truth is, now that we've learned to balance on these glorious two legs, we think it's time. To learn to run. And by run, I mean fast.

The good news in all times is that we've got a little light to lead the way: Vibe. Attitude is everything, right? And who would we be without our sassy smiles and savvy ways? We're naturally in love with our world and even if it's new amenities, new rules, new menus or just new moons, we're committed to one thing above it all: No worries.

We can assure you that we support you as you're running faster or dancing longer or jumping farther. Perhaps you're just eating more cake and making a point to keep bon bon distribution on your speed dial and we? Think that sounds fantastic. Whether your beefing up or trimming down, winding up or slowing down, we're with you. And we're with you with a smile.

If you'd like to know what we've resolved to do, in this new year (of the Tiger, no less! Meow!), we'll let you in:

We resolve to be number one. No exceptions. No worries. We're committed.

And well, yes. We'll go ahead and keep on being fabulous.

See you soon, sweethearts! We're off and we're jamming. Join us?