Single and Dreamin'

My last relationship lasted 4 years, 1 week, 6 days. It spanned Seattle to Chicago to San Francisco. We had some great times.

Current Days of Singlehood -1

Oddly, or not so oddly, today did not feel terribly different than yesterday. The relationship had declined at a slow pace, because of distance, and our lives just grew apart. It’s a dull ache in the back of my mind. It’s like exercise that makes you so sore you hurt, but you know you’re getting stronger. Better times are ahead.

So what did I do on my first day of reclaimed freedom? I planned a dream vacation. I researched all the fun things I would like to do with imaginary money, and then I tried to scale it back to a more manageable amount, that could with work become my reality. And after not a terrible amount of thought, I have picked my next big adventure.

Dani takes on Belize and Guatemala. Before today I did not even know Belize existed. Turns out it’s smooshed between the southern tip of Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean ocean. It is also the only country in South America that has English as its national language. It is also on the top 10 list of budget vacations for 2012. Perfect. Destination – check.

Now how am I going to go with? Well strangers of course. At 26 and single, my friends are all married with babies; Or working diligently towards marriage and babies. That’s correct, they chose husbands and procreating and I choose, Mexico, Australia, Fiji, Ireland, Scottland, and a weekend in Canada. In the last 9 years, I have lived in 5 major cities. The people who knew me back in the day, they knew I was destined for more that what the quaint town of Atascadero could show me.

I digress, I need strangers to take my maybe not so imaginary trip with me. I should take another backpackers tour! Google, google google… There are none? Okay I can fly there and find some hostels plan some outings on my own… but I need people! Google: Single in Belize vacation. After a lot of no’s I hit the jackpot. Now what does this tour do? What make me excited about it? “…innertube through 7 miles of underground river caves with only your headlamp to light your way. It’s one of the coolest tours you will ever take.” And there’s already 33 single people signed up. Travel Companions – Check. Flights, hotels, daily activity’s – Double Check.

Still to do –Save up $2500 (the tour costs $1700) that’s $800 left for upgrading tours, the few meals that aren’t covered, souvenirs and alcohol. Also, need get 8 days off of work in a row.

I’m going to need a cute beach body to go in the new bikini I am now asking for, for my birthday in June. I also will be asking for a waterproof digital camera. Conveniently enough, I take a tumbling class on Thursday nights so I spent two hours doing cartwheels and round-offs (much improved from last class) on the gym floor, and front hand springs and almost landed front tucks on the tumble track. In 6 weeks I have gained so much strength, that I think this is the strongest I have been since the effects of mandatory PE in high school wore off. I was skinny in college, but I wasn’t strong. Better watch out, after a tumble class I feel like I can take on the world.

So day one of the return to single, wasn’t so bad. I ached a little, planned a vacation, and tumbled.

Will this crazy vacation happen? I hope so, but it doesn't really matter, the dream got me through today. And I am taking things one day at a time.

What will Day 2 hold? Stay tuned.