Back-to-School Blues

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With the beginning of the school year, families with children might want to plan now for a family vacation during a school break, because everyone wil be ready for an extended recess eventually. 

And if parents can find some grandparents to fill the gap between school and bedtime, a privileged few may wish to take an extended "date-night" cruise to re-acquaint themselves with that romantic couple they were before they had kids. 

As far as actual back-to-school blues, I can't honestly say I dreaded going back to school when I was a kid. 

My friends and I experienced at least one sunny day or two on our cool front porch saying, "I don't know, what do you want to do today?" 

Back to my original point, if all my friends were in school, I wanted to be there too. 

When I was Mr. Mom, my kids returning to school was actually a little harder on me, because even if they were out playing with friends a good amount of time, I enjoyed having them around.  As you've probably noticed, children are a source of great joy and often say and do things that can be quite humorous, even if your role as a parent is to tell them not to do that. 

This summer, we were fortunate to spend a lot of time with our granddaughter Emma, and I guess I'd say the back-to-school blues I feel are in no longer having kids that age.  

However,there is a cure for that: TRAVEL! 

We just need to remember who were were after we were kids and before we were parents.  We were pretty doggone happy back then. 

Most likely, we didn't have enough money or time to take great cruises to tropical islands or explore the world. 

Age has its privileges. 

And, it keeps us out of our kids' hair. 

Where have you always wanted to go? 

The Southern Caribbean by mega-ship? 

The imperial cities of Europe by river cruise? 

 Machu Picchu with a backpack? 

Alaska?  Mexico?  Canada/New England? Hawaii? 

Australia?  New Zealand? Africa?  India? 

China?  Vietnam?  Japan?  Tahiti?  Bora Bora? 

Egypt?  Israel?  Turkey? 

Portugal?  Russia?  Greece?  England?  Italy?  Ireland?  France?  Scotland?  Germany? 

There's a big, wide world waiting for you, and we are privileged to live in a time when Americans can go about anywhere we can imagine going. 

Lately, there has been a spike in interest for Antarctica. 

 Did you know that a few South America cruises on large ships like Coral Princess can take you to the waters of Antarctica to enjoy scenic cruising with incredible views of that least-visited continent? 

There are even excursions --- admittedly very pricey excursions --- that will get you even closer. 

Taking it a step further, you can take expedition style cruises with Quark or Lindblad National Geographic where you put on your parka and head out on Zodiacs daily to brave the elements and walk on that icey land. 

An interesting hybrid is upscale Silverseas which has an all-inclusive pampering approach, which currently includes free air on selected voyages aboard their ships that carry just 254 guests. 

As I said, just about anywhere you can imagine going.  And traveling about any way you can imagine traveling. 

Where do you want to go to cure your back-to-school blues?