you can't always get what you want- can you?

this is my wonderful family at crater lake last summer. i have lived in oregon most of my life and never been there before. it is beautiful. fascinating. inspiring. i was inspired to create an agenda of natural wonders for the next few summers but-oh the tragedy. this summer, i am forced to abandon my plans to take the family on a national park tour in exchange for a trip to florida and puerto rico. can life get any worse?! really, i am certain i would rather spend stifling hours in the rv cooking meals and washing dishes, and wiping snotty noses and dirty faces than bask in the glorious sun on a tropical island with frilly drinks and tanning lotion. and i would definitely choose the smell of rv exhaust and bug repellent, along with the pain of being bit/stung/pinched or otherwise maimed by alien insects while begging the kids to enjoy nature rather than be repulsed by it, over the trauma of spending time with distant family, shopping in air-conditioned malls, eating in nice restaurants and exciting adventure at disney world!