I’m big on making resolutions, and I’ve never limited myself
to a new year to set them. I’m constantly making lists of things I want to do
(save money for X, Y, and Z; complete crafty projects A, B, and C; try this new
exercise routine to find my perfect balance to regular workouts; read these
classic novels this year; etc.), and I post these lists everywhere. I have a
chalkboard in the kitchen with the big ones but I also have lists on my phone,
post-its shoved in my purse, and notebooks dedicated to various resolutions
scattered all over my apartment. I rarely (if ever) stick to my perfect plans,
but I love the false sense of organization they give my all-over-the-map
ambitions. Plus it feels awesome to cross something off a list when I actually
do it.
So even though I make resolutions all year long, I
inevitably get swept up in the frenzy of a fresh year and set some new ones or
recommit to old ones that have fallen by the wayside. For 2015 (so far), I’ve
decided to focus on the following:
- Bike to work more.
- Learn how to cook like a grown up.
- Win the war with my pets to maintain a clean-smelling apartment ALL THE TIME.
- Turn my 3.6-mile jog into a 5-mile jog. And then do it at least 3 times a week.
- Buy a scooter.
- Quit smoking.
- Be more cultured (which to me means reading more; taking a painting class with the boyfriend; and going to museums, the ballet, and the the-ahhh-ter).
And of course keep traveling! Unfortunately, buying a
scooter seriously cuts into my expendable cash (i.e., my travel budget). But
does that mean I have to compromise my rule about visiting a new country every
year? Hell, no!
This year, more than any other since I made my rule, I’m
focusing on budget travel. I think I will be able to afford a quick trip to
somewhere in the Caribbean for my birthday (December) for less than $1,000. My
plan is to find a good deal on an all-inclusive vacation in Jamaica or the
Dominican Republic. I also want to squeeze in a girls’ trip to San Francisco
and Napa Valley, but I haven’t started running numbers on that yet. I’m pretty
sure it will be more than my Caribbean trip, but we’ll see.
And I resolve to keep writing this blog! I still have to recap the Galapagos, and then I'll start writing more planning and budgeting entries. Happy 2015, y'all!
