Laguna Beach in 24 Hours

I really think we forget this sometimes. The last two weeks I tried to take a break from the internets and everything else having to do with checking or posting something. It was harder than I thought. I wonder if we’re getting a bit TOO wired for our own good. And yes, I am well aware of the irony of blogging about this subject.

So I took a break. I made sure the iphone didn’t get checked every five minutes. I didn’t care about sales ranks or ratings, reviews, or anything. OK, I at least tried. When you’re home, it’s next to impossible. To clarify: When you’re home and you’re obsessive, it’s next to impossible.

So the only way to really do it and unplug, is to take an actual break. So we did. It lasted for a little over 24 hours, but it was amazing. My family was in town, so the day after Christmas they offered to watch the kids. I was out the door so fast I forgot my wife. After going back in the house, getting my wife, and actually packing a few things, Audge and I got in the car and drove to Laguna Beach, CA.

As soon as we were on the freeway we started to relax a bit. It had been a stressful year with everything from the good (a book release) to the bad (every appliance in the house breaking down at the same time which made our credit card company very happy) and everything in between. With the new baby, we hadn’t been away as a couple for almost two years. Not that we ever really did it that often with the first child, so let’s just say we were overdue.

We went a bit cheap on the hotel which is always a gamble. Normally over $200 a night but now only half that? With breakfast? Really? That’s quite a bargain! Turns out we were staying at one expensive cheap motel. But was crack included? That’s never on the brochure.

Let’s just say you get what you pay for and to be honest, we didn’t mind, except for the backaches we both got from the rock hard mattress. It was pretty much a bed surrounded by four walls and a bathroom. Only one side had a lamp so we had to take turns on the “reading side”.

So we went to the beach. It was cold but beautiful. Laguna is beautiful by the way. Worth the drive. We went shopping. I hate shopping, but it took me a whole extra hour to get annoyed! I was definitely relaxing.

Then we went to a crazy expensive hotel and ate in their restaurant. Needless to say, it was amazing. From the view to the food, it really felt like… well… a date. After dinner we walked around this crazy rich person hotel like we were… rich and it was really fun. It was actually cold and if it had been a little warmer and we weren’t so full of good food and sangria we probably would have walked down their cliff walkway to their beach.

So once we were back in the lobby we felt warm, full and happy, and went back to our cheap motel. We watched an old Fantasy Island rerun on a channel I don’t even think we have two hours away, and just enjoyed not having to do ANYTHING. No kitchen cleanup, no childcare, no bills, no house repairs, no vampire slaying, etc. Nothing. It was awesome.

It was four in the morning and we were woken up by a drunk outside the hotel. Now, we’re used to being woken up at four in the morning since the baby seems to like that time of the morning to have a family conference. But the difference was, we were in a hotel room, we didn’t have to get up. And we certainly didn’t have to change him. At least, we weren’t going to.

We woke up late (8:00 am) and felt refreshed. So other than a few aches in the back and a free breakfast that was actually six blocks away in another hotel, we really felt like we got our money’s worth. Most importantly, we really felt like we went on vacation.

In fact, we had so much fun we’re going to make in an annual thing, as long as my family keeps offering. Looking forward to next Christmas. Maybe we can stretch it to 36 hours next time…