Hi, Peggy and Eric!
Like you, we're staring our vacation early. We're leaving for LA on the 29th -- to spend a few days with my mom who lives near San Pedro in Palos Verdes. You're right, it wouldn't be smart to miss the ship's departure, as we'd have to fly (or swim) all the way to Hawaii!!
And, like, you, we're celebrating our 24th wedding anniversary this August, too. (Hmmmm. . . . six degrees of separation?)
My hubby and I were both born and raised in Southern California but relocated in our 40's (about 13 years ago now) to North Idaho -- big change in weather, but we love the four seasons and everything about the area. Southern Idaho is different in terrain than here. Like Michigan, we have lots of lakes in the North: Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, Pend d'Oreille, Spirit, etc. We're more mountainous with lots of high mountain pine trees -- a lot more Pacific Northwest -- with warm summers, beautiful autumns, and not-too-horrible winters, but colder than Boise's, etc.
We've never been to Michigan, although we've met a few other couples from there on prior cruises,and it sounds lushly green and blue, too.
We're about an hour's drive south of the Canadian border and I actually work in Spokane, WA, about an hour's drive west, as a high school English teacher. Just finished year 34! (22 years near Pasadena, CA before.) Jerry is a real estate agent now, but he put in 22 years as a policeman in California before we made the big move.
We're on Emerald Deck, below you, and an inside room -- so REALLY no view!! You might get lucky even though they tell you you have an "obstructed" view due to lifeboats, however. Sometimes, they "stagger" the rooms so that you actually DO get a decent view window. Hope so!! The ship is apparently not only sold out, but over-booked, which you've read about on Cruise Critic's board by now.
We haven't started to pack just yet, but will need to soon -- I keep HOPING I'm going to magically lose a bunch of weight and fit into skinnier-sized clothes, but with just 8 days to go before we leave, that doesn't seem too likely now!
Well, I hope we meet you at the Thursday, August 2nd get-together in Characters Lounge. It's always such fun to know names of new friends in advance!
10 days and counting!!! Love those sea days . . .
Elizabeth
