It’s that time of year. I just finished with our busy season at work. I can finally come up for air and start thinking about summer plans. What shall we do? Where shall we do it? What will it cost? And the most important question, when I’m done doing it, will I still be married and will my kids still be alive?

Yes, you guessed it, it’s vacation planning time at Farty Pants World Headquarters.

Over the past couple of years, we have taken the kids to Europe to see family, and with family in tow to Tahiti, New Zealand and Hawaii. Yes, I know. I am not asking you to cry me a river. We are fortunate. But! All of these trips entailed getting on airplanes and traveling long distances so that we could enjoy whereever we were.

I love to travel. My wife loves to travel. Believe it or not, my kids love to travel. They are great fliers. They have been traveling since they were born. They think airports are fun. They love to drag their little carry on behind them through airports all over the world. They know that they have to take off their shoes going through security. They expect airport toilets to be yucky, and they can play on the airport people movers for hours waiting to board the next flight at 4 a.m. in the morning in some far off land. In short, they are travel veterans.

But I have laid down the law this year. No more airplanes for the rest of this year. I want to return to the simple life. Don’t get me wrong, I want to travel. I need to travel. I have lots to see. In a previous post I mentioned that I have been to a lot of places. Upon reflection, I realized I have not been to enough places in my own back yard. I’m speaking of the good ol’ U.S. of A.  So I have convinced my wife that this years vacation will be a driving vacation. She is thrilled. (Insert sarcastic looking facial expression here.)

It has taken some convincing. Alright, even some begging. No torture though. We in the nation of Farty Pants are above that. I got a bug up my ass that we should rent one of these and hit the road. I really want to go to Yellowstone.

I mapped it out on Google Maps and and it is doable. The kids can pee and poop as we drive. My wife promises me she will keep the car sickness to a minimum and we can travel in style. Our own self-contained mobile Farty Pants World Headquarters. I bet I can even blog about the trip as we drive.

So, stay tuned. If I can get one of those mobile beauties rented for a reasonable price and at a reasonable time, we will be doing my favorite past time. ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. I bet we are on a plane again before the year is out.