Staycation Was the Ultimate Vacation
by
Cynthia Carr Falardeau 
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Ultimate Vacation
The anticipation was incredible. I was delirious with excitement! The thought of a night alone with my husband was climatic. It had been six years since I was officially “off duty.”
All I can say is that it is less about the location and more about our attitudes.
Although our son was an answer to a prayer, he also had arrived with many challenges. His premature and initially fragile life brought many blessings.
Our self-absorbed lives of being married without children for almost twelve years were forever changed by his arrival. We have no regrets. However, without a nearby family support system, we had to wait for just the right time for a night away.
Related: Thinking of a Stay-cation? Here are 9 ideas to get you going
Alas, over time, we found the perfect sitter. She was comfortable watching our son and our child was content to be in her care. It was as if the planets had aligned!
Throwing the budget to the wind, we scanned the internet for luxurious escapes to near-by Palm Beach, Boca Raton or Miami. Where did we arrive? Two blocks from our home. Yes, I repeat, two blocks!
My family roared with laughter. The comments,
“You finally have your chance and you are only going away in your own neighborhood?” The truth was that we found the most luxurious amenities in our own beachside community. The hotel had a cool Latin vibe and an ocean view. Why did I need to drive two hours to feel away?
Alright, it’s confession time: I was nervous about being too far away. My child has special needs and I was anxious about not being able to first respond if he needed me.
Related: Summer Staycation
We enjoyed the hotel cost more than we would have spent out of town. Just like Norm from Cheers, I loved going to my favorite restaurant where everyone knew my name. Best of all I felt like I could cut loose, dance the night away with my husband and fall asleep knowing that if my son needed me, I could be there in an instant.
Like a crazy tourist, I took photos of our room. I documented every moment. More than my patient husband would have liked.
My point is this. Take the opportunity to escape. Find a place that electrifies your soul and makes you want to dance or do something crazy.
It’s just for an instant. You feel alive. Most of all you feel connected to the one you love. It’s a priceless gift. One that is worthy of skipping a few extras in exchange for a night of red hot Latin perks!
By the way, we stayed at Gloria Estefan’s “Costa d’Este Hotel.” Again, my point is that it is less about location and more about your attitude. Immersing ourselves in luxury was the goal. The fact we could have walked there was secondary.
Related: Where’s the RESPITE?
Escaping or “stay-cationing” was the perfect solution!
Story and Images by Cynthia Carr Falardeau
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This post originally appeared on our January/February 2012 Magazine
