Royal Caribbean Cruisers -- How Are Things Where You Are? (was "Routine" ​ 😁 ​day in lockdown... how was yours?)

[BonTexasNY]

4 minutes ago, singinalot said:

the garage:

this is a hallway that holds the stairs and elevator and splits between the garage portion and open space portion

open space 

 

4 car garage

Beautiful!  Great you can finally relax.  

[Tree_skier]

42 minutes ago, h20skibum said:

I would give a vote for Hawaii.  For a first time visit, I would do one week in Maui and one week in Oahu.  There are lots of things to see and do on both of those islands.  
 

I have been there 7 times now, and my favorite is Maui because it is much more laid back. 

I'm only going tube able to squeeze a week out of the schedule.  Would you still do both?

[Tree_skier]

53 minutes ago, Momof3gurlz said:

Only input I can provide is re: NYC.  Within driving distance from the city, I’d suggest Long Island.  My daughter lived on the north shore in Port Jefferson for a couple of years.  When we first visited her there, it was not at all what I expected.  Lots of cute little downtown areas, wineries, farmland and of course the high end Hamptons.  But I would share your concerns about what type of NYC experience you’ll.  We love the city, the lights, the sights, the excitement, all the different neighborhoods and fabulous food.  Not sure you’ll get the true experience this year?

I've heard of the Hamptons for years in Movies and TV.  That might be an interesting experience.

[Coralc]

You need longer than a week to make it worthwhile. Car rentals, interisland flights. 

Edited April 28, 2021 by Coralc

[Sunshine3601]

9 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

If you get up when I do the Windjammer is quite pleasant for breakfast also.

Same here.  I usually have breakfast in WJ around 630/7 am, unless I had a late night drinking in casino 

[Ocean Boy]

1 minute ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Same here.  I usually have breakfast in WJ around 630/7 am, unless I had a late night drinking in casino 

No matter what time I go to bed I am still up in time for sunrise at sea. I love it so much that I'd be so annoyed with myself for missing it. There is always time during the day to catch a nap if needed.

[Sunshine3601]

3 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

No matter what time I go to bed I am still up in time for sunrise at sea. I love it so much that I'd be so annoyed with myself for missing it. There is always time during the day to catch a nap if needed.

You are absolutely right I love sunrise at sea.  I rarely miss it and hate it when I do.  I like to get up get my latte and go for morning walk on jogging track then grab another latte and head to Wj.

[Keksie]

54 minutes ago, singinalot said:

Ok, now that the house is closed, I feel more comfortable posting about it. TBH my nerves have been fried for a couple of months. In case you couldn’t tell(HA). I was so worried I’d mess something up for us and it wouldn't happen. Managing selling our house here, finding a rental here, moving, and the whole offer process in Florida...all while working more than full time and still try to give quality time to family...

I slept like a baby last night 🤣

I got home from work tonight and our new landlord was in the driveway introducing himself to Nate. He is a nurse so as soon as i told him I work at the hospital, we were “in like flynn”.

 

On the topic of rentals, it turns out our realtor in FL was actually living in the house we bought and renting from the owner...today I drafted a new lease for her to keep renting from us for 13 months. I’m really truly honestly amazed at how it all worked out. 

 

And now...some pictures of the house:

 

Nate gets the garage, I get the wine fridge 😉

 

That tub is beautiful.  So glad everything worked out so well.  

[Keksie]

8 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

No matter what time I go to bed I am still up in time for sunrise at sea. I love it so much that I'd be so annoyed with myself for missing it. There is always time during the day to catch a nap if needed.

When we did a Norway cruise we got up one morning at 3 to watch the ship sail up the fjord.  It was spectacular and as soon as I saw the scenery I was wide awake.

[Ocean Boy]

3 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

You are absolutely right I love sunrise at sea.  I rarely miss it and hate it when I do.  I like to get up get my latte and go for morning walk on jogging track then grab another latte and head to Wj.

We share the exact same mornings on a ship. It is an aspect of cruising that so many people on the ship never experience. And that is fortunate as it would ruin the experience for us.

[Tree_skier]

36 minutes ago, Coralc said:

Yes. But you should spend a few days in Hilo to visit Volcano National Park, and take a helicopter excursion if you can . Paradise Helicopters out of the Hilo airport. It is awesome, and you will get the best view of the active lava along with a narration from the pilot.  Volcano National Park and then Lava Trees State Park. Have breakfast at Ken's Pancake House. 

I looked up Paradise Helicopters and it looks great but there is no way that I would get DW into a Helicopter. She'd be paralyzed with fear.  I can't get her on a chair lift, gondola, zipline, suspension bridge or any elevated platform. When we lived in a condo downtown she wouldn't even go out on the balcony.  Volcano national park looks super interesting though.  Maybe 4 days on Oahu and 4 days on the big island. Getting around the islands doesn't appear to convenient.  I assumed there'd be some kind of ferry service. I assumed wrong.

[Jimbo]

1 hour ago, singinalot said:

Ok, now that the house is closed, I feel more comfortable posting about it. TBH my nerves have been fried for a couple of months. In case you couldn’t tell(HA). I was so worried I’d mess something up for us and it wouldn't happen. Managing selling our house here, finding a rental here, moving, and the whole offer process in Florida...all while working more than full time and still try to give quality time to family...

I slept like a baby last night 🤣

I got home from work tonight and our new landlord was in the driveway introducing himself to Nate. He is a nurse so as soon as i told him I work at the hospital, we were “in like flynn”.

 

On the topic of rentals, it turns out our realtor in FL was actually living in the house we bought and renting from the owner...today I drafted a new lease for her to keep renting from us for 13 months. I’m really truly honestly amazed at how it all worked out. 

 

And now...some pictures of the house:

 

Nate gets the garage, I get the wine fridge 😉

 

Got to the party late, is this an investment purchase or are you moving from Colorado? Also what town in Florida did you buy in?

Edited April 28, 2021 by Jimbo

[Tree_skier]

1 hour ago, singinalot said:

I vote Hawaii @Tree_skier
 

Ive been to Branson multiple times and the shows are the only selling point for me. Given that shows may not be what they were...I definitely vote Hawaii.

Thanks, I'm pretty sure that is the way we are leaning here at the moment.  DW kicked NYC to the curb during dinner tonight.  It looks like it is just up to which island(s) at this point.

[Tree_skier]

1 hour ago, singinalot said:

the garage:

this is a hallway that holds the stairs and elevator and splits between the garage portion and open space portion

 

open space 

 

 

4 car garage

 

Gorgeous home. DW is super jealous of the kitchen.

[Coralc]

That's too bad. She never even did the Capilano suspension bridge?  Unfortunately they don't let you get really close to active lava.  The helicopter was a great way to see it. But yes, Oahu and Hilo would give you Pearl Harbor and lava. The circumnavigation of Oahu is a nice day trip with sea turtles, the North Shore, Polynesian Cultural Center (if that is your thing), other sites. And the 3 or 4 days on the big island would be fun. The Hilo side is very different from the Kona side. 

Edited April 28, 2021 by Coralc

[Sunshine3601]

1 hour ago, singinalot said:

Ok, now that the house is closed, I feel more comfortable posting about it. TBH my nerves have been fried for a couple of months. In case you couldn’t tell(HA). I was so worried I’d mess something up for us and it wouldn't happen. Managing selling our house here, finding a rental here, moving, and the whole offer process in Florida...all while working more than full time and still try to give quality time to family...

I slept like a baby last night 🤣

I got home from work tonight and our new landlord was in the driveway introducing himself to Nate. He is a nurse so as soon as i told him I work at the hospital, we were “in like flynn”.

 

On the topic of rentals, it turns out our realtor in FL was actually living in the house we bought and renting from the owner...today I drafted a new lease for her to keep renting from us for 13 months. I’m really truly honestly amazed at how it all worked out. 

 

And now...some pictures of the house:

 

Nate gets the garage, I get the wine fridge 😉

 

Looks beautiful.  that's great everything worked at well for you.🤩

[Ocean Boy]

6 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Thanks, I'm pretty sure that is the way we are leaning here at the moment.  DW kicked NYC to the curb during dinner tonight.  It looks like it is just up to which island(s) at this point.

I love going to the city, can get there with minimal effort, and have a place to stay as my brother lives in Manhattan. With all that I have not been there in over a year. It just doesn't seem, right now, to be the place that I love. I certainly would not endure the effort, or expense, to get there from the west coast with the way things are at this time.

[George C]

43 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

You are absolutely right I love sunrise at sea.  I rarely miss it and hate it when I do.  I like to get up get my latte and go for morning walk on jogging track then grab another latte and head to Wj.

Rarely awake for sunrise but love sunsets have loads of pictures of them on cruises.

[ReneeFLL]

11 hours ago, island lady said:

 

We have to keep them in pots, due to the critters.  Once one starts to get ripe, have to drag the pot into the enclosed courtyard to let it finish without being eaten by them.  😮   

 

If it wasn't for the squirrels and Raccoons...we could plant them in the ground.  The Deer eat up a lot of things too.  Lost several flowering bushes and our Key Lime tree to them.  

We must have different squirrels here because they don't ever bother our pineapples and the raccoons like to stay in the back by the water. I only see a few raccoons walking along the seawall, but not very often.

 

7 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Reminds me of a dear friend of mine who was a sports broadcaster for a professional football team. He was known for his late nights staying up and drinking. When asked what time in the morning he gets up, he replied, "Hell I don't stop throwing up till 10am."

Even as an adult? That's gross.

[Ocean Boy]

14 minutes ago, George C said:

Rarely awake for sunrise but love sunsets have loads of pictures of them on cruises.

Sunsets are awesome too. Here is a sunrise taken from Independence....

[Tree_skier]

18 minutes ago, Coralc said:

That's too bad. She never even did the Capilano suspension bridge? 

Nope, neither have I though.  I always recommend people skip Capilano suspension bridge and go to Lynn Canyon instead.  It is a much more interesting suspension bridge with great walking trails all over.  There is active cliff diving during August and early September and it is free to boot. One of the cliffs you will see people jumping from is, depending on the water level, upwards of 100 ft and there is a natural waterslide that is an absolute hoot. I started jumping off cliffs when I was 12.  The 100 footer we used to refer to as the ultimate test on manhood. Looking back I refer to it as the ultimate test of stupidity. I haven't done it in a decade but I still love to go and see the old sights.

 

 

 

 

These are some great examples of what you can see or do, if you are brave enough, at Lynn Canyon.

[Tree_skier]

38 minutes ago, Coralc said:

The Hilo side is very different from the Kona side. 

Which side would you recommend we stay at?

Edited April 28, 2021 by Tree_skier

[ReneeFLL]

2 hours ago, Coralc said:

I know people have been posting photos of their plants. My joy is growing peonies. This particular variety has a presidential backstory. I received this plant (tuber) from local a grower 20+ years ago. Ever since Jimmy Carter was president, they have been the official peony provider to the White House Florist. They are used in arrangements for state dinners and White House decor. 

 

Beautiful flowers and you definitely have a green thumb. I love flowers.

 

2 hours ago, h20skibum said:

We drove to a park in Ohio today. Hiked a few trails, and enjoyed some of the flowers in bloom. 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful flowers.

[Lionesss]

I get busy today and find out I missed so much on the thread.

 

To start with singinalot, I want your house.  Lovely!

 

Then everyone sharing pictures nature 

 

All the beautiful plants and flowers.

 

And

 

All the milestone anniversaries this year.

 

CONGRATULATIONS

 

We too can be included.

 

We should have been on the Allure celebrating this summer.

 

Yup, it is our 30th. (married August 10, 1991)  I cannot believe he has put up with me this long.  Damn hormones.

 

But anyway, we were meant to be, and cherish every day, we both know how lucky we are.

 

Take care.

 

 

 

Edited April 28, 2021 by Lionesss

[xpcdoojk]

8 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Which side would you recommend we stay at?

So, I haven’t read the precursor posts, but the reason to stay on the Hilo side is because that is where the active volcano is... and Volcanos NP and rain.  The reason to stay on the Kona side is sunshine and black sand beaches.  I like both.