Now, of course, I did pick one of the major honeymoon destinations for my solitary soiree, so I sort of set myself up for lonely evenings on the beach. I decided on a work trip to Hawaii, that I would fly out a few days before my conference and travel around Oahu and stay an extra weekend and go to Maui. The time in Oahu was fabulous as I got to hang with some of my peeps who get to live in tropical paradise, competing with tourists for mike time at the karaoke joints and eating lots of shave ice and mochi. A couple of friends also flew out early so we drove all over the island and had mini-adventures, including kayaking and snorkeling (unbeknownst to us) in a breeding and feeding ground for hammerhead sharks. Thankfully I didn’t find out that bit of trivia until I returned home as I had a mini freakout even two weeks after the event. I probably wouldn’t have even stepped in the bathtub the whole rest of the time I was on island.
After the conference, some of my local pals took me out to lunch and got me a screaming mai tai before my way too short plane ride to Maui (screaming mai tai = 34 oz of rummy goodness). Somehow I made it to the plane and after a brief nap in my rental car, set off for my tropical digs on Maui. Now I have to say right now, that not only did I knowingly choose a site preferred by adoring and adorable honeymoon couples but I also made that decision just a few months after being dumped by my boyfriend. Therefore I should not have been surprised when during only my 2nd dinner alone, after a few too many tropical bevvies, I had to leave the restaurant before I started hurling my bread basket at the glowingly happy couples. I did make some wise decisions on that trip – like deciding to take a tour of the island with a group and purposely being as friendly with my fellow tourgoers as was possible without seeming like a crazy lady.
So are the only options available to singletons to stay at home or risk making an ass of yourself singing “All By Myself” at karaoke night at your hotel in Maui? Of course not! The key here is to choose your travel partners wisely. I have been so lucky in this as for it to seem unfair. First of all, my sister is utterly fantastic. Yes, she can snore like there is a woodland animal trapped in her nostrils, but she is off the charts on the fun-scale and she puts up with my wackiness and even my sulks (although she did threaten to leave me on an overly long road trip in the South when I lost my marbles over My Very First Speeding Ticket). We just got back last week from an excellent excursion to Oregon with our wonderful nephews to celebrate their college graduation, and I have to say I don’t think I could have had more fun. Hiking (I have photographic proof), breweries, waterfalls, beach, bookstores, geocaching, breweries, donuts with Cap’n Crunch on them, Saturday Market, breweries (yes that many of them and one had beer floats with vanilla ice cream in stout), cigars, wonderfully weird Portlandians, and a rental car named Clarence. My only regret is that we were unable to get on the Cycle Saloon – a glorious contraption where a bartender is in the middle serving you beers and steering said saloon whilst patrons cycle around the city.
If you are not blessed with fabulous family members to travel with, then you need to get a friend or two, preferably as agreeable as mine are when it comes to hitting the road and seeing some sites. For a few years, I routinely went to the beach with some dear friends and we had so much fun and did so much sitting on our asses, that it should be illegal. There were drinks of the day, sitting on the porch, healthful walks, boardwalk fries, and epic bouts of “There’s Your Boyfriend” – a game where every completely suitable man (or statue even) gets claimed for one of you with a shout of “There’s Your Boyfriend!” followed by raucous laughter. We’ve also done little road trips involving gardens, wine, gambling, historical sites, and mint juleps. Ah, juleps. Sigh.
I have another wonderful pal with whom I’ve gone on more long distance va-cays with including Vegas Baby Vegas, New Mexico, and a shorter trip to the spa at Hershey—too luxurious for words PLUS we got to see the Amish and I am more than mildly obsessed with the Amish (don’t ask – I don’t know why. I just am. To the point where I used to go to this dutch farmer’s market and try to look demure so that a young Amish man would take me away from this modern life and let me churn butter to my heart’s content). And I’m also blessed with friends that although they’ve abandoned me and moved away, I get to go visit them and have plenty of hijinx usually involving mad-capped schemes, beverages, and tons of silliness.
Now at some point, some or even most of your friends will get hitched and/or procreate and while these are certainly joyous events, they might put a crimp on your travel plans. Some of their spouses might not want them to travel all over the place with you or babies might need tending to and travel plans with those friends might have to be postponed. Don’t let that keep you at home though as travel is far too fantastic to not try it every chance you get. Start talking about some of the places you want to visit with your peeps and see who’s interested. And if that fails, I’ve always got my bag and passport at the ready J
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