The cruise was once in a lifetime opportunity! I had a really really great time! I don't have final numbers, but I spent roughly $550 for a ticket on a 7 day cruise to Florida and then the Bahamas from Baltimore. Plus approximately $80 in souveneirs, drinks & dinner in ports, $169.36 on drinks on the ship(ouch! but I spent the least in our group) and $111.90 on shore excursions which included an Airboat & Alligator tour in Florida and a Catamaran and snorkelling adventure in Nassau, Bahamas. I already had paid for the cruise ticket. The drinks & excursions went on a credit card, which I am paying off today. So no new debt was incurred by the trip!
I came home to an empty pantry & fridge, so I ran back out to see my family for a few mins and then to the grocery store to pick up a few items for dinner tonight. I'll be doing my full grocery shop tomorrow after I complete updating my 11/1-11/15 budget.
I definately felt like I was completely cut off from the life I have here. I slept, read, played and swam when I wanted to. I waaaay overate with the complimentary food. And most importantly, I was able to let go of the always running list of things-to-do in my head and just enjoy time away from home.
I did miss my family and am glad to be home with the cats. It looks like the heat wasn't on much while I was gone. I had set it to turn on if the living room hits 63. Currently its 67 
Hope everyone had a great Halloween. Here are a few quick pics from the trip. I literally took HUNDREDS on the digital camera and 27 on the underwater camera (for) snorkelling. I'll be able to share the pics via Snapfish for free to friends and family who are interested in seeing them. Gotta love technology.
Here's a pic of the Atrium on the ship:
Sunset from the balcony of our room:
A house in Nassau, Bahamas. Look at that blue water!
View from the catamaran that we took for snorkelling.
Local artist in Freeport. We talked to him for a while, definately had a different outlook on life.
View from a bar that we stopped at in Freeport. We literally turned our barstools around and saw homes, boats & ocea!
Back From Vacation!
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Hubster and I just speaking a minute ago about using our timeshare in Florida (our home-base) this coming year, just driving down, lazing by the pool and ocean! We could stay a longer time if he'd just agree to it now that he's retired. We have a lockoff unit so that would give us 2 weeks and we also have some time banked, which could give us up to 6 weeks more. I could see staying gone 2 months easy w/drive days...he won't go for that long, but I might send him home w/o me on a fly back, & Frugalson & I drive home! I'd REALLY like to do some extended stays now that he's retired and get a better feel for the outlying areas away from Cocoa Beach and Orlando proper. Wonder if FrugalSon's work would give him a short leave of absence? He's been there five years.
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