thoughts on vacation.

After a beautiful week of new friends, a ton of fun, and the US traveled, I arrived back to staycation last week.

A few more days unpaid until reality had to set in.

But it's back with a vengeance. The X, the money, the house, the job.

Yes, it bites.

Fair Hills Resort was better than great. It was awesome. Quality time with the girls. GREAT people. Friendships formed. And this was all in addition to all the activities that kept us amused morning till night.

We can't wait to go back. It was everything I hoped it would be, and more.

I thought quite a bit about the concept of vacation while I was driving home.

Italy? Disney World? Grandma and grandpa's lake?

Your own little place to escape to?

It's a state of mind, really. When you are able to relax and the pressure of everyday life relaxes for just a few hours, a few days or a week.

To me, that idea of "vacation" necessarily included a "vacation family."

From my very first vacation at Sunny Brook in South Haven, MI, the friendships made all the difference.

The Dockuses and the Roemers were my Sunny Brook cousins. Mary, Jimmy, Heidi and Ruth were pen-pals and phone calls from a pay phone at Newman Pharmacy, because dad wouldn't let us call from home.

All the way to Fair Hills. A new chapter for just me and the girls. The Clarks, the Waids and the Buells made our vacation complete. They are emails, and photo sharing and Facebooking now.

It would not be a vacation to me without these friendships taking off.

I am grateful for my very first vacation friendships, and I am eternally grateful for those that were formed since. For me and for my girls, who are learning that the best things in life are always the people that take a chance on you as a friend.

Especially while on vacation.