http://www.jachomes.com

megram - Index

megram - 55NovOttawa - Index

Note to self: Time to go south
Here comes the sun.
Close your eyes for a minute and you
can almost feel it.
Imagine sand between your toes.
Warm breezes. Balmy nights when you
don’t even need a sweater.
Beaches and flip flops, fans moving
lazily, shorts and sleeveless shirts and towels
spread out on pool-side loungers.
Ah, yes, the time has come to go, go, go.
It’s time to plan your
southern getaway
Get out of Rainville. Trade your water
repellent parka and your doom-and-gloom
outlook for the delicious excitement and
anticipation of making plans and reservations
for a wonderful holiday down south.
Opt out of those frigid, gloomy winter
November/December 2008 • 30 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
weeks when the front steps are treacherous,
the driveway is in perpetual need of
shovelling and it takes a good 20 minutes to
warm up the car. Instead, pencil in golf and
tennis, sailing and snorkeling, leisurely bike
rides, dinner on patios and moonlit walks
along the water.
Maybe a boat cruise is in order or a little
rest and relaxation – under a palm tree
with a chilly drink.
You deserve it.
Lose the laptop. Banish the wireless
device. And devote yourself to leisure and
enjoyment.
But before you get up and vamoose, be
sure to go smart.
That means getting organized before
you head off.
For starters, make absolutely sure you
have comprehensive travel insurance. Be
honest about any pre-existing health conditions
and opt for complete coverage. The
last thing you want to do is wind up on a
stretcher being wheeled into an out-ofcountry
operating room for emergency,
six-hour surgery that comes with a
$100,000 bill.
You want to have fun, not a mountain
of debt.
And make sure to update your passport
and take it with you. An official travel
and identification document, your
Canadian passport is the only proof of your
ID and nationality that will be accepted in
all countries. And whether you travel to
Watertown, New York for a weekend of
shopping or to Rio de Janeiro for six
months of samba and coconut tree shade, a
passport helps minimize travel hassles and
maximize pleasure.
What about the other essentials?
Traveller’s cheques?
Sunscreen?
Glasses?
Medication? (Be sure you have extra
and that you follow the rules for carry-on
luggage if you’re flying.)
Smile and a positive attitude?
Wherever you go, they’ll always come in
handy.
Enjoy.