A Glimpse of the Life I Didn't Choose

Sometimes in life you get the opportunity to see the path you didn't take. There was a female motor guide on our trip who was about my age, but who had chosen a very different path than me. She is a nomad guiding river trips in the summer and traveling as a fill in yoga teacher at various studios across the country in the off season. She had taken the path less traveled and after grad school I had chosen marriage and family.

Marriage is a serious fork in the road. I've come to realize that I didn't fully grasp the magnitude of the decision to settle down at twenty five. Being married and having a family is an adventure, but it is a far cry from the person I was in college. I went on archaeology digs in the four corners and studied ethnography traveling up and down the Baja of Mexico. Going on this trip gave me a chance to just be me without the many obligations I face everyday with small children under foot. It was nice to get a break and step away to get some perspective. I am grateful my dad was willing to go along with this adventure and we had a great time, but it is wonderful to come home where my arms and heart are full. I also realize that I am very lucky to have a husband who will support my dreams even when they differ from his and make more work for him while I am gone. And while the nomad existence looks appealing especially when the kids are giving me grief, the happily ever after comes with traveling down the path and following through.

I found happily ever after

I guess it should come as no surprise that Disney had the market share of happily ever afters and that is where I found happily ever after or at least a really great vacation. A main component was a little program called "Dine and Play" on the Disney cruise ship, Magic.

After spending wonderful days together as a family on the cruise, we would enter the dining room for the late seating and the kids would eat or pick at their food for 45 minutes. At 9pm camp counselors would magically appear and take the kids away to the kid's club. (I even handed them a sleeping child one night.) Hubby and I would enjoy the rest of our meal and then explore the ship's "adult only areas". It was magical. I got to enjoy being with my husband while the kids where well taken care of and having a blast.

We had to pick up the kids by midnight or else they might have turned into pumpkins this being Disney and all. With the time change we weren't completely negligent parents having our 3 and 5 year olds out until the stroke of 12 because with the time change it was only 9pm back home, which isn't far off their normal bed time.

We are home and back in our routine, but with a little faith, trust and pixie dust we will have many more wonderful times together.