Vacation from Self Reliance

So, we went on vacation to a tropical island. Tom and I and two of our four kids, Brandon and Justin, went away mostly to get them away from work, but also to get some sun, as mine in Pennsylvania is pretty much gone now for the foreseeable future. Little did I know that we would also be taking a vacation from self reliance. At least, that was the intent of the people who work at this resort. It’s their job. I’ll explain.

This resort is the kind of place designed to make you feel like a king. They have very comfortable hotel units with views to the Caribbean Sea, two bedroom condo units and exceedingly modern and luxurious three bedroom Presidential suites, plus beautiful villas with private pools, patios, balconies and lovely manicured gardens.

If I told you what this place is like, you’ll think I’m bragging which is not my intent, but I must state it is super-duper nice, in fact, too nice for us! How can I say this? Because the people who are there to serve us–yes, serve us from sun up to well into the night–expect us to pretty much do nothing more than eat, drink, be happy and order them around. I kid you not!

We had a lovely three suite villa with its own maid who aside from keeping everything neat and clean, makes breakfast for you each and every morning, if you wish it. We did not wish it. We are not breakfast people and for Pete’s sake, there’s a grand breakfast buffet just a little ways away if we got peckish. So, did we really need to have this nice lady, who has to take care of several other villas and their inmates, work far more than she had to? Heck no! We didn’t even let her make the beds. She was astonished, but I suppose you are too.

I can hear you shouting, “What is wrong with you??? When you can get others to do for you, let them!”

No, it just didn’t sit right with us.  We just didn’t think any good would come from it.  Case in point: I’m pretty sure I gained at least five pounds while there! Tell me that ain’t bad! Needless to say–or maybe I do need to say it–this resort living goes totally and completely against the grain for us, but we love the sea, sun and the people there are so nice, always smiling, always willing to chat with you. So we’re willing to trade the good with the …well, to us it was bad. It’s a lovely place to be, but thankfully only for a week, more or less.

What can I say?  Tom and Brandon were bored after only a few days and I was getting antsy. We’re used to being active and doing all for ourselves and we actually like it that way. Hello! This is Self Reliance Works, after all. We don’t just talk the talk around here. We walk the walk.

Oh, that’s another thing. They didn’t let us walk anywhere. The villa came with a golf cart. Well, don’t you know, some of the villas are pretty far removed from the beaches, the bars, the disco, the activities and all the riff-raff…I mean…the other vacationers, so a golf cart is supplied to each villa. And if by chance some of your party wishes to go this way and you wish going elsewhere, they provide free shuttle service. Really, this is just too much!

The golf cart we did use quite a bit, but you’ll make fun of me when I tell you what we did with it. Oh, we used it to drive to the different beaches–they have three–to the buffet at lunch, to the gourmet restaurants for dinner and to the Tower building, which was the only place for reliable internet service so Tom could check his business emails (No, when you are boss there is no getting completely away form work). We also gave rides. To whom? Anyone we found walking, mostly people who work for the resort. Did I mention the resort is HUGE?

Most said, “Oh, yes, please! Thank you so much!” and one woman in particular, who we gave several rides to, wished we’d never leave. We saved her several miles of walking, you see. It made us feel good to help ease their work load a tiny bit and they do work so much and for so little pay. It’s pathetic!

So, this vacation from self reliance…well, even with us protesting all the way, it was nice to have someone bring you a drink before you need another one, give you a towel when you get out of the pool and clean up after you…if we ever made a mess. Did I mention before that Tom is a neat freak? He barely leaves me anything to clean at home and it doesn’t change on vacation. I love that!

If you want to take a vacation from self reliance, come with us next time. Maybe you can show us how to enjoy having others do for us. Good luck with that though!

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Glory Lennon would be just as content to stay home, but her hubby needs to get away from home in order to get away from work, so off she goes with him and like it or not, they take their ingrained frugal and self reliant ways with them.