My very good friend and her husband live in Hong Kong. He took a job there a year ago, they packed up their baby and their stuff and vamoosed. We still work together via Skype and email.
And we have their pet snake until they move home. (He's actually a rather nice houseguest. More snake stories later).
A while ago, we cooked up a plan. They're coming home in the summer to visit family. Their Hong Kong apartment is vacant.
We're going to Hong Kong! Hong Kong! They're staying in our house and using our car. We have a free apartment in Hong Kong!
As always, we can't afford it. We're digging into savings accounts, contributing birthday presents, redeeming pop cans, and trying to concoct meals out of the contents of the freezer to avoid going shopping. The kids summer clothes are probably coming from Goodwill instead of Target. But dammit, we're going! I know we are lucky beyond measure to both be employed through this recession.
My son will be in high school next year. If not now, when? Our time window for family travel is rapidly closing, much faster than I'd like to admit. He might have a summer job next year.
We shouldn't do this. We should stay home and be responsible, pay off a credit card, go camping, and maybe splurge on some new furniture (like most of our neighbors do).
We were dithering, and I talked briefly to my Vietnamese next door neighbor. He said, "Go! Time moving on! You can't get it back!"
We bought the tickets.
Yesterday.
We're going.
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
amputeemommy
OS Readers' Picks
Margaret Feike
Reflections of a shallow pond
Cary Tennis
Sarah Cavanaugh
Salon.com
Comments
and post them so we can all see it too!!
Such good news dear....
Land safe.
(Jealous tinged with envy but mostly very, very happy for you!)
I went to HK once. I'm 5'3" -- and I think I was taller than everyone else on the street. A fresh perspective.
Enjoy! Neither you or your kids will forget it the rest of your lives.
r
:-)
r./
;)
Rated for adventure.
I've been thinking. Do any of us EVER put framed photos on our walls of a new couch? Or a new computer? Or a new high-end designer handbag? Wouldn't that be supremely weird? A framed, 8 x 10 glossy of... new carpet?
No. We put framed 8 x 10 pictures of the people we love, sitting on the couch, standing on the carpet, holding the handbag.
Maybe I'll post a picture of my (old) couch. Would ANYONE really care about my couch, old, new, or otherwise? Will my kids remember our couch other than to laugh at it, like I laugh at old pictures of the rust paisley couch that was in the house I grew up in?
No. No one cares about my couch. No one cares about anybody's couch.
I will take many pictures and post updates.
Thanks so much everyone.
Time flies so have a meaningful trip.
Drema
There is NEVER a perfect time. Seize the moment.
I hope you guys have a wonderful trip. Bon voyage!
jlsathre--yes, travel lasts longer than a couch!
Steel Breeze--I would love to have seen it in 1969.
dianaani--thanks! I've never regretted travel. Only not traveling.
Erica--you're right. So it's now.
greenheron--oh yes, noodles! Hot from a market stall, with spicy sauce...
Mission--Yes, lots and lots of pictures!
alsoknownas--My understanding is it's a really easy city to be a foreigner in. There are a bazillion expats there, lots of people speak English. It's sort of Asia lite as compared to, say, an inland Chinese city hundreds of miles from a port.
Deborah--yes, photos! Lots of photos.
Linnn--Love road trips! This one will be epic.
SagCap--I'm 5'4", and I'm used to feeling short. Except in Thailand where I was tall. I think I will be tall in HK too! And yes, "Time moving ON!" is the best advice ever.
Jeanette--I don't know about courage, it might be heedlessness. I love travel, I love seeing weird things that I just can't learn from guidebooks.
Gotham Chick--Yes, will post stories and photos!
Joanie, thanks so much! I will post lots of pictures.
Myriad--absolutely!
Sheila--yes, they won't forget it. And it won't be another boring summer at home.
dirndl skirt--yes, I will post stories and photos!
Sarah--I will post lots of pics. And I know all about being stuck in places like Cedar Grove... travel is expensive and doesn't always happen. Last year we didn't leave the state.
Nancy--Cool! Where are you going this summer?
candace--yes! "Time moving ON!" best advice ever from my wise next door neighbor. Our sons are the same age, and we're watching as they get taller every day, knowing the end of this kid-in-the-house parenting journey is rapidly approaching.
phyllis--do I have to be responsible next year? Oh darn.
nilesite--will post pics!
toritto--I would love to have seen Hong Kong back then. And you're right, the kids will never forget.
Just Thinking--Yes, buying furniture doesn't make memories. No one ever puts a framed photo of their new couch on the wall.
onislandtime--yes, floors work great for sitting. So do couches purchased in 1988 (older by far than my kids).
Julie--I don't know about brave. Maybe thoughtless. I hope it will be a ton of fun.
Seer--I won't forget! And I will post photos.
Algis--thanks for the great suggestions.
Amy--I will definitely write about it!
clay ball--I can't wait.
mypsyche--you're right, of course. Showing them the world is more important than stuff.
Lea--yes, looking forward to some PB&J soon... but for a good cause.
Scorpion--I'll be careful. I promise.
Nick--there is never a perfect time. Other than now.
Alysa--it's only money. It's for spending. I also won't have a framed picture of my bank balance on my wall.
Mary--I've just heard such great things about Hong Kong.
Bellwether--I'll take lots of pics.
Cranky, you're right of course. I'll only live once.