The Goat Pen

hedge wrote:I don't think I could stand a cruise. When I'm on vacation, I'm trying to get away from other people, not be crammed in with them. We always rent a car wherever we go so we can find a secluded beach or some out of the way beach bar with few patrons, or just to drive around and check things out...

I think your cruise mates would be ok with that. Even better if you just kept driving.

hedge wrote:eCat = disgruntled do-gooder

Hedge = dumbass moron

last time we were at the lake, it has this great loop around the lake and takes you to the beach area which was empty for some reason, and then around to a rock formation that people were using as a jumping off spot. There might have been a rope, I can't remember. Anyways, the area was just completely trashed - plastic handle vodka bottles, chip bags, diapers - totally disgusting. We were completely put off with it - and the lake in general is gorgeous. I don't get people swimming in garbage. Back then we only had a couple of plastic grocery bags to put trash in and we hardly made a dent in it.

Also, another thing that was memorable about that trip - on the way there we left pretty early - it was getting hot in the day but the mornings were still cool. I bet we passed, I dunno - 10 turtles of various sizes in the road. We stopped and helped a few across on our way.

Its stupid little stuff like stopping for turtles that makes those day trips so enjoyable to us.

eCat = disgruntled Dr. Doolittle

Because he squawks to the animals

Img2, please.

Cruises can be okay. I like the bigger rooms with a balcony. Free room service for breakfast and have a cigar on said balcony in the AM.

If you’re on a budget, though, they are hard to beat.

yep althoguth the cigars on the balcony are going by the wayside

one cruise I went on I bought the upgrade last minute to a balcony. We were never in the room during daylight hours.

Everyone says you have to get a balcony on this Alaskan cruise, but for now at least, we've opted for the larger inside room that is 2 decks below many of the restaurants/bars, etc. I like the idea of not having to use the elevator fighting crowds.

The balcony was roughly $600 more per person. It was just wasn't worth it to us and that was my wife making the decision.

crashcourse wrote:yep althoguth the cigars on the balcony are going by the wayside

It's been that way for a while. I ignore that rule. No one has ever said anything. And I make sure no one is close in a neighboring balcony when I light.

keep that in mind

definite advantage to being able to take stairs instead of elevators

the cigar smoking room--you would have been better off in shanghai breathing

they chased me out of the casnino

topside smoking was for cigarette smokers only so I got chased out of there by the crew

would have been better off smoking a joint around there

I normally hate cruises with a passion. Charlotte is a 2 and a half hour direct flight to most Caribbean islands so I prefer doing a long weekend at one place. Then next year go to a different one.

My wife was right in talking me into doing Hawaii via cruise. You can island hop without having to unpack and pack all the time. The islands are so close that the ship leaves late at night and arrives when you wake in the morning. Car rentals were a surprising $10-$15 a day.

That's what I would do.

moving to Tucson Arizona in the next few months
better job 25% hike in money
spent last week there--pleasantly surprised how nice it was even though it was a hundred and five felt like just a warm dry day
house prices are pretty decent to from what I saw

Tucson is nice...

Say Hi to Corky for us.

We need more R votes in Arizona.

where does corky live

Tucson.