Finding Time to Get Away

I just got back from a few days in Leavenworth Washington. This is Christmas Village USA! I used to take my kids there each year during the first weekend in December so we could get in the Christmas mood. We haven't done this for many years, though. I was able to book two nights at the WorldMark, and we had a wonderful time! Ethan is graduating in June and Wade and I treasure every moment with him! We always head to the Hat Shop to try on the multitude of crazy hats!

Take a Vacation - Stay Alive!

850,000 Americans die of heart disease and stroke a year. How many football stadiums is 850,000 Americans? Stress can increase your chance of developing these diseases by 50%. So our lifestyle is killing us! In a study of 13,000 middle-aged men at risk for heart disease, those who skipped vacations for five consecutive years were found to be 30 percent more likely to suffer heart attacks than those who took at least one week off each year. Even missing one year's vacation was associated with a higher risk of heart disease. A separate study, tapping information from the Framingham Heart Study, found vacation deprivation may be equally hazardous for women. Researchers looked at 20 years worth of questionnaires given to 749 women. Their finding: Women who took a vacation once every six years or less were almost eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease or have a heart attack than those who took at least two vacations a year. Locale and length of stay are not important. An exotic holiday abroad or a camping trip just up the coast can help you recharge. A study conducted among 1,500 women in rural Wisconsin found that those who take vacations twice a year or more were less likely to become tense, depressed or tired than those who took vacations once every two years. In addition, the odds of marital satisfaction decreased as the frequency of vacations decreased. So take a vacation and save a life -- YOURS!

February in Paradise!

I went to Cabo in February! It was amazing! I came home with such a feeling of energy and fun! I can't seem to be able to put my black clothes on anymore! I was surrounded by beautiful colors and blue water and sky. The people were fun and friendly. Their lifestyle is so relaxed and stress free. I took home a part of that place with me. When I got to the Portland Airport, it was actually nice to feel the cooler moist air on my skin. I think part of the joy of travel will be the reaction to coming home. It is so wonderful to meet and see new people and places, but it also helps me realize how grateful I am to live where I do with the people, here that I love. I now have a spot on the map of where I have traveled. I have plans, oh do I have plans! Working at WorldMark and becoming an owner have changed my life. The possibilities are endless! I have been looking at the Caribbean for next Winter. Wade and I got engaged after our trip to Cabo. We have made a commitment to each other, that, no matter what life throws at us, we are going away together for a week each Winter to de-mildew! I am ready to start this new life with this wonderful man the right way! We are each others' top priority. Spending the rest of my life exploring the world with him brings me a feeling of such peace and excitement! Here are a few photos of our trip. It was simply incredible!

A New Direction!!

I have been a photographer for 16 years. It has been a thrilling ride! It's now time for me to start another adventure. I want to start traveling! My kids are almost all out of the house, and I am finding myself going in a new direction. My job at Wyndham has made this a reality for me. Not only do they give me vacation days, they actually encourage me to vacation! They want me to experience all of the wonderful resorts and travel options, so I can tell my Owners all about them. Now they don't give me any kind of price break for becoming an owner, so I am starting small, with 10,000 credits, but I plan to be at Platinum level before I retire! I will be finalizing the purchase tomorrow morning. I have established this blog to document my experiences as a new world traveler. I am inviting all of my new owners, friends and family who vacation through the amazing Worldmark Ownership Club to join me in this journey! I want to share your stories and photographs with everyone here! Here is a photo I took of the Seaside Resort a few weeks ago. It is my new home, professionally, but more than that, it is the place where my dreams of travel and life are becoming a reality!