Sometimes the Best Trips Aren’t Planned
Some people will tell you they’re just not spontaneous.
Others insist they can’t be spontaneous because every detail has to be planned weeks—or even months—in advance.
Then there’s me.
The funny thing is, the more time I have to prepare for a trip, the harder it seems to be for me to actually get ready. It doesn’t make much sense, but it’s true. Give me a week to pack, and I’ll still be running around at the last minute. Give me a few hours, and somehow everything falls into place.
I know it drives Tracey crazy.
I’m pretty sure it drives our friends crazy too.
We often hear, “If you had just given us a little more notice…”
Well…this trip was definitely not one of those trips.
On Tuesday we decided we should sneak away to Rocky Point.
Wednesday morning, we were on the road.
Sometimes that’s exactly the kind of getaway your soul needs.
Crossing the Border to Our Happy Place
Being semi-retired certainly has its advantages.
We did have a little work to finish before leaving, but once that was behind us, we threw a few clothes into a bag, grabbed some toiletries, packed a little food, and headed south.
The drive was wonderfully uneventful.
We listened to 80s music on SiriusXM, challenged each other to name the artist and year every song came out, and laughed more than we probably should have.
I even attempted to attend a doTERRA webinar while riding down Interstate 8, but apparently the stretch between Gila Bend and Ajo isn’t interested in supporting productivity. My phone completely lost service, earning AT&T another gentle reminder that they really need another cell tower out there!
A quick stop in Gila Bend introduced us to one of the friendliest McDonald’s employees we’ve ever met, followed by our traditional fuel stop at the Why Not Travel Store in Why.
From there it was across the border with a welcome green light and on through Sonoyta, where we carefully obeyed every speed limit. If you’ve traveled this road before, you know the local police appreciate visitors who pay attention to those signs.
Vacation was officially underway.
Home Away From Home
Since we packed light, we skipped the HOA office and headed straight for our condo.
That decision came back to haunt us.
Standing outside the door, I confidently held up our key card…only to be greeted by a flashing red light.
Again.
And again.
Nothing.
Then it hit us.
New year.
New keys.
Oops.
Tracey volunteered—or perhaps was volunteered—to make the trek back to the HOA office. Thankfully, he decided to drive instead of walk because the office had recently moved to Phase Two. What used to be a decent walk had become quite the hike.
A short while later he returned with new keys and, as an added bonus, had managed to catch up with our friend Jose, one of our favorite bellhops.
This time the door opened.
We were home.
Well…our second home.
Before unpacking a single bag, we wandered from room to room admiring the new furniture we’d recently had delivered. Geoff from Border Movers had done an incredible job coordinating everything, and seeing it all in place made the condo feel even more like home.
We slid open the patio doors, let the fresh ocean air replace the stale air from the closed-up condo, and simply stood there taking in the view.
No matter how many times we come here…
That first glimpse of the Sea of Cortez never gets old.
A Day with Nowhere to Be
Thursday began exactly the way a vacation should.
Slowly.
There were no alarms.
No schedules.
No plans.
Just coffee for Tracey, tea for me, and an endless ocean stretching out before us.
I answered a few emails, finished up some laundry the cleaning crew had missed, and then did one of my favorite vacation activities.
Absolutely nothing.
Or at least it looked like nothing.
I watched the waves.
Listened to the surf.
Thought about life.
Sometimes those quiet moments accomplish more than the busiest days.
A Walk Along the Water
Eventually we wandered down to the beach.
The pool was much too cold for either of us, although we bravely tested it to about mid-calf before quickly deciding that was enough adventure for one day.
Instead, we enjoyed a long walk along the shoreline.
One thing that immediately caught my attention was how clean the beach was.
No broken glass….No trash….No dead fish.
Just shells rolling in and out with the tide and an occasional tiny hermit crab making its way across the sand.
The beach was nearly empty, another reminder of why we enjoy visiting during the quieter months.
It’s peaceful.
Relaxing.
Exactly what we came for.
Paradise Isn’t Perfect…But It’s Pretty Close
Back at Las Palomas we took another leisurely stroll around the property.
Workers were replacing damaged tiles, installing new palapas along the beach, and making improvements throughout the resort.
It’s always nice to see a property investing in itself.
While enjoying a michelada at the pool bar, we watched security politely escort a couple from the property after discovering they weren’t registered guests.
The security staff handled the situation with professionalism despite being met with far less courtesy than they deserved.
Watching the whole exchange reminded us that kindness costs nothing.
Fortunately, moments like that are rare here.
Most visits are filled with smiling faces, warm greetings, and people simply enjoying paradise together.
The Perfect Afternoon
Back at the condo, Tracey decided it was time for one of his famous vacation naps.
Honestly, I think he’d nap every day if I let him.
I, on the other hand, settled into a chair overlooking the ocean until hunger finally convinced me to head into the kitchen.
Lunch that day consisted of homemade tamales generously given to us by our friends Sonia and Miguel.
They were absolutely delicious.
Whether it was the aroma or the noise coming from the kitchen, Tracey somehow managed to wake up just before lunch was ready.
Funny how that works.
Afterward, we tackled a couple of small projects around the condo before returning to what we’d been doing best all day.
Relaxing.
One More Day? Absolutely.
Originally we planned to head home Friday.
Then Saturday’s plans unexpectedly changed.
Well…
It didn’t take us long to decide another day at the beach sounded much better than another day at home.
Some decisions are easier than others.
Breakfast took us to one of our favorite places—Wrecked at the Reef.
Before we’d even made it through the restaurant, we were greeted by our good friend Omar with hugs and smiles.
Catching up with Omar has become one of our favorite Rocky Point traditions.
After breakfast—and a couple of Bloody Marys—we wandered down to the beach for a friendly game of cornhole.
I’m happy to report that I won the first game.
I suppose honesty requires me to admit Tracey won the second.
We’ll call it a draw.
A Little Pampering
Later that afternoon we treated ourselves to pedicures at the Las Palomas spa.
As someone rubbed my feet while I looked out at the Sea of Cortez, I couldn’t help but smile.
Ocean view.
Peace and quiet.
No schedule.
Honestly…
What more could you ask for?
The rest of the afternoon was spent experimenting with our telescope, attempting to photograph fishing boats far offshore.
Let’s just say patience was required.
So was communication.
Neither of us excelled at either that afternoon.
Eventually we figured it out, laughed at ourselves, and ended up with a few photos worth keeping.
Exactly What We Needed
Before dinner we met the renters staying next door, enjoyed getting to know them, and even invited them over for a tour of our condo.
It’s funny how easily conversations begin when everyone is relaxed.
As the sun slowly settled over the Sea of Cortez, we started talking about where to have dinner.
Maybe Citron….Maybe wine and jazz….Maybe somewhere else.
It really didn’t matter.
That’s the beauty of spontaneous trips.
There isn’t an itinerary to follow.
There are no reservations dictating your day.
Only opportunities waiting to be enjoyed.
As we sat on the patio that evening, listening to the waves and watching daylight slowly disappear, I realized something.
Sometimes the very best vacations aren’t the ones you’ve spent months planning.
Sometimes they’re the ones you decide to take on a Tuesday…
and leave for on Wednesday.
Those are often the journeys you remember the longest.