From Stay to Va-cation

From the ferry to Martha's Vineyard

First of all, let me put in a plug for the concept of a staycation the week before your vacation. This allows you to do the decompression on your own time, not paying resort or rent fees for the days it takes to feel as if you're not working. We went to movies at the AFI Silver Theater, including Lawrence of Arabia and The Searchers; we rode our bikes on the Crescent Trail, we had brunch at Louisiana Express, we had a dinner party on a week night. In other words, we did things we would not normally do, and slept in every day.

Fully rested and restored, we set out Friday to Martha's Vineyard, wisely deciding to break the 10 hour trip in two, we stayed with the cousins in New Jersey that night.  Saturday was all about driving and then waiting in the mysterious process of the Steamship Authority at Woods Hole. We were assigned to Lane 9, and there we stayed for about an hour and a half waiting for our ship to come in. We had hoped for an earlier standby send off, but what were we thinking at peak season? Every car looked like ours, SUV's with bikes strapped to the top or the back, bags full of groceries at mainland prices and teens in the back.

Bad hair day on the ferry

The great thing about the 45-minute ride to Martha's Vineyard, is that everyone on it, to a man, is in a good mood. A stark contrast to being in the check-out line at the Bethesda Giant. There are lots of smiles, laughs, posing for photos, early drinking.

And then you get there and you maintain your reason to smile. Because Martha's Vineyard is gorgeous.  We chose an inland house rather than seaside, partly because it saves us literally tens of thousands of dollars (the first rental I inquired about was $20,000 a week); and it was in the same town where my son's a Capella group lives-West Tisbury. So we got to see my son, whose house is only 11 minutes away, and make plans with him for the week. He was off to perform for a group of Democratic Senators and Members of Congress, followed by a private birthday party. Busy, busy are The Vineyard Sound.

Our house is called The Farmhouse and it's a charming, three bedroom way off the road in the woods. It appears that they distressed some of the furniture prematurely, before the renters could do it.

Okay, the day is young. What to do? Run? Bike? Yoga  (just down the street), go to the beach with the special permit that comes with the rental?