Summer Pondering in the Spring

Given the size of our small family, two adults and one ever growing child, we always try to make our decisions in a balanced manner. If two people agree on something, the third person should follow. Sometimes we have two adults against a child, sometimes two guys against a girl. The odd number person needs to present his or her side of the argument if he or she should feel strongly about the issue.

The latest such poll in our family is the decision about where we will vacation this summer. Henry gets ten weeks off every year, and I usually plan for nine weeks of camps, leaving us the final week to have some fun before tossing him back to school to face a new teacher and homework. Lovely thought. This year we plan to go away for three nights, within five hours of driving distance. Bill's ear tube malfunction prevents him from flying. My elderly inlaws could handle house-sitting the elderly pups for maximum three nights. For three nights I'm reluctant to spend more than a day on the road. It comes down to Tahoe or Cambria (central coast).

The guys want to go to Tahoe. It's a short drive (says The Man, who drives). The boy claims there are familiar things to do, like basketball (I don't know about that), and golf (his new love). Mom, who will be paying for the hotel, says it's too familiar and the north shore which is where I'd want to stay would be more expensive.

I have the only vote for central coast. We've never been to the area before and I've heard a lot of good things about it, like my knitting friend Fae's account of Cambria Paradise. We could stay in San Luis Obispo, and go up and down the coast to visit Cambria, Morro Bay, Santa Maria and even Santa Barbara. There will be plenty of time on the beach, and with two universities around we might even find some sports activities. We can drive down highway 1 through Big Sur, which is The Man's first love.

Now if only I can convince one of them.