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How far in advance to make vacation plans?

One of the most difficult things about having a terminal illness, even when it may be in remission or slow progressing, is never knowing when it may take an unexpected and/or unwanted turn for the worse.  At the very least it makes planning for vacations difficult.

Of course, as I realized this past week, planning for vacations can be a problem even if you don't have a terminal illness, because anyone [even healthy people get sick you know] can pick up a virus any time, and even if you do have a terminal illness you can get sick from things totally unrelated to your particular disease. Plus there reasons, other than illness, that can arise, resulting in the cancellation of a planned trip as well.

As it turns out, in January of this year, Edie and I were planning a trip to France this month. We were going to leave on the 10th of July, and return on the 28th, spending the last 3 days in Paris, and watch the end of the Tour de France on the Champs Elysees. I even booked hotel reservations in Paris, less than 200 yards from the Champs Elysees.

But for some reason, for a reason I can't remember (it could have been the lousy exchange rate), in April we decided not to go this year, and right now that seems like a pretty prudent decision.

The way I was feeling yesterday, I'm sure the plane ride would have been down right miserable, that is assuming I would have even been allowed on the plane in my condition [hoarse throat, running nose, sneezing, coughing], and for sure I know I'd be feeling a lot more sorry for myself, than I am now, in some non-descript hotel room in France.

So while I know we made the correct decision this time, I can remember canceling a trip to Pittsburgh, for my 40th high school reunion, in '06, for some not so very good reasons, which I have come to regret tremendously.

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Alejandro said…
Hi Marc:

My vote is one of the two you have at this moment at your web. I vote for less than two months but that means that I´m trying not to make plans except for the next couples of week.
My idea is to spend three weeks in september skiing in the Patagonia ( Bariloche), but I will decide that in the last days of august, I will travel by car and make no hotel reservation till that time. I learn that is better to live the day and making plans produces a sort of pressure in our lives that is no good for our condition.

Regards !!!

Alejandro
1:41 AM
Marc said…
I absolutely agree Alejandro. The problem is it makes planning for trips to places like Argentina, Patagonia, Antarctica so difficult. If you wait too long, you end up changing your mind, costs go up dramatically, or you end up not being able to do some of the things you want.

Enjoy your ski trip.
7:16 AM
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