IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, I DECIDED I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR MY WIF'E BIRTHDAY IN JUNE, SO I TOLD HER TO PICK ANYPLACE IN THE U.S. FOR A 2 WEEK EXCURSION. SOUTH CAROLINA BECAME THE DESTINATION, SO WE WENT ON THE WEBSITE "VRBO" (VACATION RENTALS BY OWNER).

SHE SELECTED A COTTAGE ON THE BEAUFORT RIVER NEAR THE OCEAN.

SO WE PACKED UP THE VAN JUNE 16, INCLUDING THE CAT AND HEADED SOUTH. I MENTION THE CAT BECAUSE HE CONTRIBUTED TO ONE THIRD THE EXPENSES. WITHOUT HIM, THE TRIP WOULD HAVE BEEN PROHIBITIVE. WE ARRIVED IN BEAUFORT SC JUNE 18. AS WE ENTERED THE COTTAGE, WE HAD A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE MARINA OUTSIDE THE GLASS WALLED BACK OF THE PLACE. THERE WAS A HUGE DECK WITH VERY COMFORTABLE ROCKING CHAIRS. PARADISE!!!

IN TWO WEEKS, WE TOURED BEAUFORT, HILTON HEAD, AND SAVANNA GA. WE ATE IN SOME TERRIFIC RESTAURANTS (I MISS THE SHRIMP PO' BOYS).. MY SON, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND OUR NEWEST GRANDSON CAME UP FROM ORLANDO AND SPENT A LONG WEEKEND WITH US. FANTASTIC!!

AT NIGHT , WE COULD SIT ON THE DECK AND LISTEN TO THE LIVE MUSIC COMING FROM THE MARINA PATIO A FEW DOORS AWAY. THEY ALSO HAD KARAOKE CONTESTS AND I'M GLAD I COULD LISTEN FROM THE COMFORT OF THE DECK. I WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE LISTENING TO SOME OF THE "SINGERS".

IT WAS SAD LEAVING THERE. BUT NOW WE LOOK FORWARD TO GOING TO CONN. FOR A WEDDING IN OCTOBER.

I WILL MENTION THAT MY WIFE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE NAVIGATOR, WHEREVER WE WENT. I BOUGHT A VEHICLE WITH A GPS SYSTEM, SO SHE COULD RELAX AND DRIVE ONCE IN A WHILE. WRONG!! I DROVE WITH THE GPS, SHE SLEPT. OH WELL.

MARTY :big_grin: