Why I, a Travel Agent, Canceled My Own Summer Vacation
A really good friend once told me this about travel.
When you're young, you have all of the energy in the world and all the time in the world, but you typically don't have the money to travel. When you get to the next season of your life, you have the money and you still have the energy, but you don't have the time. And when you get to the point in your life where you might have the time and the money, you are lacking the energy, or maybe even your health.
That's the thing about travel, and most things in life: it's really hard for all the circumstances to be perfect. Sometimes the three line up, and you are fortunate to get away and make those amazing memories with those you love the most. But most of the time, something does not align... and that's OK. Sometimes it's OK to NOT take the vacation at all.
The Summer Trip to Hawaii
I'm going to admit something. When I started this business, it was to solve the money part.
Traveling as a family of 6, with four very tall kids (three of them teenagers!), requires extra space, extra food, and an adult-sized budget! And with college on the horizon, I knew we were running out of time… and all the vacations I wanted to take were going to cost a lot of money!! So, for 2026, I set myself a business goal so that we could take our family on a summer trip to Hawaii.
But guess what? That trip didn't happen.
And it wasn't because of the money. I actually met and exceeded the goal I set, thanks to all the amazing families who continue to trust me with their vacation planning! And don’t worry, we all have TONS of energy these days… so that wasn’t the issue either.
Why did we cancel? Well, you see, sometimes even when you think you have the time, you have to ask: is it the RIGHT time? There are seasons in our lives that force us to shift our focus and reprioritize the things in front of us. We can have our plans, but sometimes we have to lay them aside and consider the bigger picture, and most importantly, what is important to everyone else around us.
As much as I REALLY wanted that amazing adventure to Hawaii, being home this summer was more important for all six of us.
I really wrestled with letting that trip go, but here is what I figured out: it didn't matter if we were in Hawaii or just at home. Time with family was the most important thing, vacation or not.
But It's VACATION!
Growing up, my family didn't take a ton of vacations. My late brother had physical disabilities and was medically complex, and there were very few places my parents felt comfortable bringing the entire family. Health, the third thing we balance with time and money, kept us from traveling far or often.
Yet, on our few trips to Disney World with my brother, we were treated like royalty. This is what started my love for Disney. They made it extremely easy for us to have a "normal" family vacation, and I've always been grateful for that!
The simple vacations I did take with my parents and extended family are the real memories I have. It didn't matter if we actually made it to Disney World or just had a simple beach vacation in Cape Cod. Sometimes "vacation" was even just a simple weekend away for a soccer tournament. Those weekends, my dad would say "But it's VACATION!" and treat us to ice cream sundaes instead of kiddie cones. He always made the MOST of the time we had together, whether we were an hour away or a plane ride away. What mattered was that we were together.
Time Is the One Thing We Can't Get More Of
Back to what my friend told me about balancing time, health, and money. The time that you have is really the most important thing.
We can earn more money. Sometimes we can find ways to travel around health needs. But there's really not much we can do to give ourselves more time. We can't grow it and we can't shrink it. Time is limited, and when you have it, you've got to make the most of it.
Travel offers an amazing opportunity to disconnect, experience something new, and get out of your everyday place. But what's really important is time with those you love, and you can have that on the beaches of Hawaii or in the suburbs of Massachusetts.
You Don't Need a Family Vacation to Make Memories
This might sound funny coming from a travel agent. As much as I want to send people on vacation, a vacation is not the only way to connect with your family and make memories.
We can make memories together right here at home.
What we did get to do this summer: we got to make the most of our time. We spent quality time with extended family in New York, saying goodbye to my childhood home. We got to visit colleges as we help our oldest kids enter an important new season of their lives. All four of our kids got to get away independently to summer camp and special trips with friends. They all volunteered at VBS, and stayed involved in local activities. Three times, we went to the beach (just day trips!), and we still made time to rest, recover, and connect.
I'm still really disappointed we didn't make it to Hawaii, believe me! But I'm letting that disappointment remind me that connection with those around us is the MOST important thing.
It's about taking the time to invest in our relationships in the season we are in. At the dinner table, on the couch, or on those car rides around town to and from school activities and sports practice... THAT is where the memories are made.
And when you find yourself in a season when your time, money, and health line up for an adventure, don't miss the opportunity!! That is what I'm here for. If there's something you have been dreaming about, I’d love to connect with you! You can schedule a call or fill out my inquiry form and let me help you make it a reality!
Cheers,
Libby
