Hard Holiday Decisions
We get the week between Christmas and New Year off work, and I've spent a lot of time churning over what to do with that time.
Normally it's a no-brainer: go back to Sydney. I could relax, something I haven't been able to do on my last couple of trips. I could be on a beach, swim in the ocean, catch up with people I haven't seen since last time, when I didn't get much catch-up time anyhow. Pop up to Brisbane to catch up with more people, and follow up on a bit of chemistry that reacted with somebody I barely had time to exchange glances with up there, but have been in touch with a lot.
But flights have gotten very expensive. Not prohibitively expensive, but expensive enough that it feels prudent to strongly consider other options, especially since my recent trip to Africa via Europe ended up having some unexpected extra expenses. It probably makes more sense to stay in the U.S.
And do what? It's winter here, and I hate the cold. I've considered going to places like Austin, a fun, not-freezing city with people I like, assuming those people haven't gone somewhere else for the holidays. But the days are still short there, and if I'm going to stay in the U.S. I'd like to do something I haven't done before. Maybe brave the cold and go to New York for New Year and watch that thing fall down. But all my friends say Noooo! Stay away!! at the mere suggestion, and it's definitely the kind of thing best done with friends and loved ones. I expect most of my friends and loved ones are making their own family plans.
The suggestion I like most is going to San Diego. hopeforyou and I have been meaning to go to the wild animal park there for some time, and it's inexpensive and nearby enough that she could do it despite her new job. But I just woke up with this nagging urge to see if I can make Sydney work after all.
My parents are old, old enough that it's really not a certainty that they'll both be around to celebrate next Christmas with, especially my dad. I've learnt the hard way not to assume that people will be around next time. It's a pretty sure thing that there'll be summers and beaches and good friends and, most likely, enticing, voluptuous, multiethnic babes to be enchanted by, but not so much parents, and that's important, even though we were never really all that close.
It's occurred to me that I could always ask if they'd throw some money my way for the trip. It's not the same as asking for financial help to live, something I grew too old to do ten years ago, and developed an even stronger distaste for since then, when a live-in partner tried to guilt trip me into doing it when he was the unemployed one. But in this case I think they'd be happy to help. They'd certainly nag me about it if I didn't go.