A couple of years ago, I read a very endearing blog post written by Lauren over at The Stuff of Life Blog. It seems that Lauren found herself traveling with her son to Miami for spring break!
First off, she gets some seeerioouuusss cool mom points, especially since she footed the bill. And secondly, she got me thinking about why I was glad not to be my former, younger, wild thing self of (eh-hem…) just a few short years ago.
These days, the Encore Voyage definitely does not include spring break antics. Here are a few reasons:
1. We don’t need to escape – Our daily life is pretty damn sweet! Back in the day, we would count the days until we could ditch college and get some relief somewhere…anywhere! Now, there’s just not that much to run from.
2. Sleeping in is no longer our priority – God knows I never thought anyone would hear me say this…I have become a lark. This from a perpetual night owl! I worked my way through college as a bartender – staying up half the night was part of the routine. Spring break was when we dreamed of sleeping until noon. But now – wait for it – I love the sunrise! I believe this is because we are no longer exhausted as we were during our working careers. Weird, I know, but true!
3. We don’t need to use spring break to catch up (on studies or other chores) – Remember when you would use spring break to start reading that 50,000 pages that you had put off reading? Or would count on having the time finally to start that term paper? For us, those things that need to be done have either already been done, or they’ll keep until tomorrow…or next week.
4. The party of a few hundred thousand can go on without us – Spring break evokes pictures of beaches full of wall to wall young sweaty bodies. Not my idea of a good time anymore. Does it say something about us that on our recent cruise, there were few people younger than about 25? And that we planned it that way? I don’t think we’re old fuddy-duddies, but we sure as heck plan our springtime travels for the times when the little revelers will be safely back in their academic constraints!
5. We know our limits – Ahhhh, that dancin’, loud music, beach filled, booze fest attended by thousands of our new best friends. Back then we could hardly wait. Older – wiser – I can’t remember the last time I puked on my shoes! Perhaps it’s because we can now afford better cocktails and good wines? Or maybe we just grew up enough to know that needing to shave your tongue or hold your eyelids open with toothpicks is not a great feeling…
6. THEY come to US – I don’t know about the rest of you, but when I was in college, I couldn’t wait to go HOME for spring break. Most years I was out the door and headed for good old mom and dad’s! Laundry in tow and expecting a paid for, home cooked meal was about the best thing ever. We don’t have kids, but my friends tell me that one of the perks of retirement is getting to spend time with children and grandchildren on their spring breaks – On your own terms!
7. No more bikinis! – Lauren truthfully points out that it is difficult to walk around all day with your stomach tucked in, but that if she had to, she could – She just doesn’t need to anymore!!! I couldn’t have said it better myself!
So how about it, fellow Voyagers? Got any other reasons why retired spring break is better for you? I’d love to hear!
An Encore Voyage 
Ummm, not sure many over the age of 50, look good in bikinis. I can hear the screams of protest! Yes, nothing quite like a good home cooked meal, no matter who prepares it.
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No bikinis. Ever. Again! 😉
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Spring break for me always meant going home.
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Isn’t it amazing how home became more attractive the older we got. Oh, and our parents got smarter when we went off to school! Funny how that works!
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True !
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Oh yes, I can relate to so much of this. Give me a nice Friday night pizza and movie night any old time.
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As I sit here in Florida with spring breakers starting to arrive…I’m just cringing. Getting into my favorite dive bar for dinner (the cook does an amazing blackened fish and seafood chowder!), crossing the main drag without worry of being hit (cars are supposed to stop for pedestrians in Florida crosswalks…spring breakers don’t get this), and even just being on the beach (really… cigarettes, loud music, and even louder voices with more and more beers) are all things that will be challenging for the next couple of weeks. I’m not sure if I ever glorified spring break activities, even when I was in college. I was the nerdy, go home, catch up on sleep spring-breaker! Sounds like I have not changed. (And I haven’t worn a bikini since I was 16…).
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Here’s to hoping you survive spring break in Florida! It will all be over soon! ~ Lynn
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I’ve never experienced a spring break but if it is anything like the movies, count me out.
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In order to get a break from our winter Island rain, my husband and I have taken a ‘spring trip to somewhere warm (and dry)’ each year that we have been retired. (Palm Desert, Coco Beach and Singapore/Cambodia). We call it ‘Spring Break without the wild partying’! So far, it has totally worked for us. I do appreciate the points that you list above. It’s amazing how times, and desires quickly change! 🙂
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Jeremy and I are trying to do the same thing. Hawaii for the last two years (his airline points and upgrades help.) Trying to decide where to go next year – NEVER during the actual weeks of college spring breaks!
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Funny, I never realized that Spring Break was a party thing until I was much older. I always looked forward to going home and hanging out with my family and friends. It could be because my home was located close to the beach in Southern California anyway, but I really think that it had more to do with my personality. Big crowds, loud music, and over-consuming alcohol just didn’t sound like much fun (then or now). I agree, now that we are retired, who needs Spring Break anyway? In fact, like Pat, I can’t wait for the tourists to go home… maybe I should put on a bikini and scare them 🙂 !
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Hahah! How about if our group pinkie swears NEVER to put on another bikini! Just a thought! I never truly experienced a spring break getaway of the movie variety. I was usually, like Pat and Dan, home with Mom and Dad – or working, trying to make a few extra bucks during a week when I had no classes. Or I was trying to catch up on reading – I’m a little nerdy like that! ~ Lynn
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My biggest reason to avoid spring breaks is to avoid the crowds! For the same reason, as retiree (not me) or full-time traveler (old me), I would avoid the weekends, or other holidays when visiting National Parks, beaches or other attractions. Now, we are stuck to the weekends for our sightseeing activities, but that will change again at some point.
In Belgium/Europe, another reason to avoid school holidays is that everything (plane tickets, accommodation…) is more expensive than the rest of the year. Something unfortunate about being a teacher there. You are making me jealous, Lynn, with all those good reasons of being retired!
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All your points are so true, and apply to much more than spring break. Hubs and I don’t really even care much for the weekends because the crowds come out! Your day is coming, Liesbet! ~ Lynn
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I wasn’t even into Spring Breaks when I was in college! Couldn’t afford them, and was just happy to be home and doted on. Once my guy and I had kids we even stayed home during our kids’ school Spring breaks. Everyone else was away – we had the roads/restaurants/walking and biking paths to ourselves! Um, can you tell I’m a bit of a homebody? 🙂
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In retirement, we feel that way much of the time! We much prefer weekdays to weekends, because it seems like the rest of the world is off at work/school! ~ Lynn
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Spring break has never worked for me. We could never afford to go anywhere like my friends, and since my birthday has always fallen during March break, I always spent it alone. When I went to university, I was too far away from home and I always had to work to support myself. Like you, I was a bartender.
So now I just think of March break as a time to avoid going anywhere because of the crowds and look forward to the quiet that comes afterwards.
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I can remember working behind the bar over spring break, too! Ahhhhhh, peaceful!
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hahahahaha!!!
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I usually avoid going away at March break due to the anticipated crowds and higher prices for air fares and accommodations. I was surprised to find a flash sale to fly to Santiago, Chile and the airport was quiet when I got there for my overnight flight. Same on the return but I think it was because my flights were overnight and were off peak hours. In Chile, their school break was in February so I avoided the spring break crowd there, too. Just great!
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Ohhhh Chile! That would be a wonderful place to go when it’s cold here! I may need to check that out! Always looking for another possible adventure! ~ Lynn
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