For eating I was thinking about my own food issues but also more about the empty nest idea that I’d eat like Indian for lunch crazy food for dessert for dinner… or eat my way through italy just be more delib and varied about what I eat … octopus all the stuff I like and wouldn’t serve family style ! not be as planned about food as you have to be when you have kids etc. for example.. but yes I would probably also set a goal weight on the high side to enjo the extras as eating is very pleasurable for me.. I probably wouldn’t cook more than once a week b/c I’m just not that into cooking..

@Twin Mom- the ferry does sound cool. Sometimes I have a problem with sea sickness though. I’m glad I know that about myself because I occasionally think that a trip around the Galapagos in a small boat sounds cool and then I remember that small boats equal awful nausea.

@Cara- love the non-profit idea, I think it would really make a difference. Scratching my head on the eating exactly what you want in the right portion, though. Because you’ll have more time to cook? More time to shop? More time to portion? I’ve been thinking if I’m lucky enough to make it to old age I’ll eat whatever I want. Life is short. I’m 5.5 lbs from goal weight, and those Trader Joes dark chocolate covered caramels are starting to call to me…

Laura,
You’ve traveled far more extensively than I have. Our travels, other than Europe, have involved things like ferries in Alaska (inside passage and Aleutians) and national parks. Our financial and vacation situation never allowed for that sort of really COOL travel, though I do recommend the monthly ferry through the Aleutian islands as a cheap, unique trip. (We camped in a tent on the deck)

Ok, so as the one who winds up doing the planning in my family, I really like the idea of having someone else do it. My husband planned our honeymoon and while we had an incredible time, I think more of it was spent in the car than say, looking at animals on safari. We took a package trip to Nicaragua together and there were 2-3 activities every day and we never got lost. Another option, which we did years ago, was to book a private tour. We did this in Vietnam with a bike trip, and since it was a local tour operator (not an American company, but a Vietnamese small business) it was dirt cheap to have our own guide. And my husband actually said that he’d seen far more than he’d seen in some of his trips that involved driving by everything! I think it’s one thing to go off the beaten path and just discover Paris. This is a little harder to do in Botswana. You’re likely to run out of gas.

@Twin Mom, that sounds awesome. Hubby and I are super-laid-back vacationers, ie. our main goal is relaxation, and maybe see a few sights if we get around to it. I grew up in a family that was MUST SEE EVERYTHING and had a detailed schedule from dawn until bedtime, and I think I’m permanently scarred by that 🙂