We finally received our passports in the mail today! Woohoo!! We’re officially free to leave the country at any moment! If we could afford to… BUT my google trip countdown tells me that we’re leaving on our free cruise in 49 days! Le Woot!
About the Gym… I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that we’ve royally let our brand new shiny exercise habits slide. In fact, we haven’t done any intentional exercise since I don’t know when. Our gym membership ran out before Christmas. If we we had enough money to not fret over it, there wouldn’t be any decision to be made. We would re-join the gym, and use our home gym as a supplement. But since in 49 days we’re leaving on our ‘free’ cruise for which we have to pay 1 hotel night, drinks and excursions, and that in those 49 days we have miscellaneous expenses such as a retirement party, a baby shower, and other random stuff such as the Twinrix question.. which I’ll talk about in the next paragraph… we’re considering re-spiffing up our basement gym and using that full time, instead of the gym, until nicer/warmer temperatures return. Steph used to be adamant about his clear preference for indoor exercise, but last year, thankfully, he discovered that he also really likes exercising outdoors :) I can’t WAIT to be able to use the marsh trail, our bicycles, and nature parks again!
Pros/Cons basement gym list :
Pros : Saves us 110$/month which we don’t really have to spend, inclement weather can’t stop us from using the gym, resolutions people and packed gyms wouldn’t be an issue, I seem to work a lot harder in private, feel less self conscious, no waiting for machines.
Cons : Basically, the only con is that somehow telling other people that I’m training at home seems less ‘impressive/valid’ than me saying that I’m training at the gym… No eye candy…
Thoughts? Advice ?
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Twinrix :
Should we get twinrix, or not? I called and neither of us are covered for it for our insurance, so we have to pay full price for the injections. Thankfully, our family doctor doesn’t charge her own patients to administer the vaccine. (But my coworker had to pay 40$, I’m glad we don’t have to pay that!) I called around and the most expensive place sells Twinrix for 80$ a shot, and the best place is Costco’s pharmacy for 50$ a shot. ding ding ding! Winner! We need 2 shots each before we leave, and then one more shot a year later. So 200$ before we leave. I researched this to death online and by polling various people in ‘real life’. There are the people who say : Weeeelll, you’re going on a nice big cruise ship, the risks of contracting Hepatitis A or B are minimal, but there’s always the risk (contaminated water, ice cubes, swimming water, spa tools, caribbean vacation sex.. okay the last risk we don’t have to worry about hehe.) The other group is like : OMG it’s only 200$, why would you want to take a chance with your life for that? There are people like my coworker Sonia who, every time hears something I purchased or am purchasing regarding the cruise says : Yeaaaah your cruise is starting to cost you a lot eh? I’m starting to think that she’s saying that with a tinge of jealousy… because really yeah.. we’re not rich and this was a free cruise… but that’s the point, this is a dream come true and I don’t know if we’ll ever have the chance to go on another extravagant vacation like that… why wouldn’t I splurge on a 7.00$ sundress marked down from 75.00$, and a potentially life saving vaccine? GAH!! Again, if we had plenty of money, I wouldn’t even think about it… I’d just go get the darn shots.
Thoughts? Advice?
January 31, 2009 at 1:44 AM
Just the thought of having a gym at home where I could work out at anytime of any day, push myself to my limits and then go veg out on the couch without having to drive in the cold right now…I would absolutely love that!!! On top of saving money every month.
As for the twinrix, in my honest opinion there shouldn’t be anything to worry about on a cruise. If you want to take extra precautions stick to bottled water and no ice cubes in your drinks. It’s a personal decision, really…
January 31, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Hmm… I’m not sure the at-home gym would help me. I find taking classes at the gym are more of a motivation than doing the same thing at home. I’ve never been to a gym just to exercise though, I’ve always taken classes (pilates etc.).
As for the vaccine, look up the government travel recommendations, and go by that. We got both Hep shots before moving to Singapore, but then we went to live there, not just for a cruise. At the same time, you won’t be just on the cruise ship, so… I’d do it.
January 31, 2009 at 5:34 PM
I would love to have a home gym. And really – I think people that are really serious about it work out at home verses the gym.
I’ve never been vaccinated before any of my trips to Mexico. It never even crossed my mind . . .
January 31, 2009 at 6:56 PM
i vote get the twinrix. f u sonia, jealous biatch. dont tell her anything else about what you have to buy none of her business. what a hater.
January 31, 2009 at 11:01 PM
I say get it… it’s not like you need it for every trip… I got mine before China, and have taken like 6 trips where I might have needed it. It’s a good investment.
February 1, 2009 at 10:22 AM
I have only rarely worked out in an actual gym. I much prefer to hide out in my basement while I’m working out.
As for the vaccines, I think it comes down to a gut decision. If you are going to be paranoid without them, they will be well worth it. However, it’s a cost/benefit thing that only you can decide.
February 2, 2009 at 2:35 PM
If the choice in the winter is to either have a basement gym, or not exercise…well, my vote is the basement gym. It’s *something,* you know?
I would personally rather have a home gym than have to go to the gym – I can easily talk myself out of going out in the cold. I prefer to be outside when it’s nice, too.
And the Twinrix? I actually had to Google it. I had no idea what it was. In all of my travel, I’ve never worried about such a thing. On a cruise ship, particularly after the relatively recent outbreaks of illness on board, they have become absolutely paranoid about it. Particularly Norwegian Cruises – did I tell you about Hand Sanitizer Nazis? I found that I ate 95% of my food on board, and I’m pretty confident about the rest of what I ate on shore.
Although – with all of my GI issues, just you watch it be something bizarre that I brought home from Europe last summer.
That said, I personally don’t worry about those things – but if YOU are worried, you should do what makes you comfortable. :)
February 2, 2009 at 4:38 PM
I didn’t know what the Twinrix was either. I never worried about getting anything like that when I went on my cruise either. I’d say Nay but if you are really concerned another 200 bucks will be worth the comfort of knowing your safe