Please don’t hate me for this post, but I am about to get my tropical vacation brag on.
We had a really good time! I didn’t have LOW expectations, more like no expectations. I had never spent more than two hours with any of these people before this trip, so I had no idea how it was going to go. Also, it is wierd to go on a vacation that you had no part in planning. I am usually the one who makes all the arrangements, but this time it was all done for us. It was lovely to give my inner Cruise Director the week off and let my business executive step-mother-in-law take the reins. I would be all, ‘What time are we supposed be there?’ ‘When do we have to return the rental car?’ and then I would remember, I am not in charge. It was great! Is this how SB feels all the time?*
One of the highlights was renting a pontoon boat and cruising around the intracoastal waterway. It was HOT and wonderful and we saw lots of wildlife! There were beautiful snow white birds that looked like flamingoes with straighter necks. They would stand out so brightly against the tropical, green foliage. But, birds schmirds, we saw DOLPHINS. Close enough that I could see their shiny grey skin glint in the sun. They did not do any tricks, though. I am embarrassed to say that I kind of expected such antics, but we really just saw them swoop up for air and go back down. Still! Dolphins? Are you kidding me?
Here we are, beached, looking for shells. If you look really close, you might see SB snoozing on the back.
Sister-in-law, photographing the nature.
We stayed in a rented beach house on the most beautiful and empty beach. The waves were a little too scary for swimmimg but the water was so much warmer than the Pacific. Up here, anyway.
SB, taking it easy.
They took us out for dinner every night to a different, fun, sunsetty, waterfront-type place. We always got to have a round of cocktails first. So luxurious!
Another favorite part of the trip was the car they rented for us. Driving around in a convertible in the sweet, warm, tropical air was such a treat.
You should know that I took about 8 million pictures of the water and the sky, but this is one of my favorites.
Of course, we returned to a grey, cold, Pacific Northwest spring day and I had to immediately put on a turtleneck and jeans and the great indignity of socks and shoes. But atleast we don’t have hurricanes, right? (or palm trees, warm oceans, dolphins, sandals in May…)
*Just kidding, sweetie. 
