With how things move these days… the constant distractions, work demands, and never-ending kids activities, it could be a challenge to unplug as a family. We had tossed around the idea of taking a road trip somewhere south while the kids were on break, just to get away and reset. But when we heard about the family reunion in Florida, we knew instantly: that was going to be our vacation.
To avoid last-minute reservation costs, we booked the flights, hotel, and car as soon as we could:
| Flights (4x) | $851.88 |
| Car Rental | $302.97 |
| Hotel | $721 |
| Night Club | $107 |
| Gas | $25 |
| Total | $2007.85 |
I’ll be honest; at first, I questioned if it was even worth going over budget. That money could’ve easily been saved for something else, like unexpected expenses or emergencies. But after four days filled with nothing but joy, laughter, and real connection, I can confidently say it was a bargain.
Yes, yes, yessss… it was worth every single dime.
The way I look at it, I’ve taken plenty of short trips with the wife. From driving a couple of hours to events, staying overnight, then heading back home the day after. Our last trip together was the well-spent vacation in Hawaii. We had lots of fun, visited new places, and learned from the locals. Just the usual grown-up activities and unforgettable moments.
But when it comes to unplugging as a family, as one unit, there are so many benefits. It allows us to create lasting memories together. Seeing the kids in each of us come out when we’re all having fun in unfamiliar places and situations hits differently than when we’re at home.
Table of Contents
Day 1: Exploring and Unleashing
Of course, my daughter wanted to go walk around the closest mall. After having breakfast at the hotel, we went to Sawgrass Mall. It took King visiting three stores with the girls trying to figure out if they needed to make a purchase or not to come to the conclusion that he’d rather sit outside the store than just visit each store.
LOL… He then reminded me why I’m not a big fan of big outlets and malls. As a father, I had to teach him a quick lesson. I asked King to look around and tell me what he sees. He couldn’t figure it out until I pointed out all the gentlemen sitting just like us aren’t sitting because they are tired; they are there just like us at that current moment.
Fast forward to that night, we went to a Haitian nightclub event, and we danced the whole night. I watched the wife lose herself in the rhythms of the musical instruments. Not a care was given. That brought me joy.
The surrounding was pleasant and the bands did what they do best, keeping us on our feet.
Day 2: Just The Two of Us
As soon as we woke up and started getting ready to head to the lobby for breakfast, Chloey was already talking about another mall she wanted to visit.
King and I looked at each other and shook our heads side to side, east to west. I told the wife that this time, she’d have to ride along with her so they wouldn’t feel rushed because of us.
I wasn’t surprised; there was no reaction. They were totally fine with that plan.
While the girls went out burning calories walking around Aventura Mall, we were back at the hotel gym, burning ours. Just a couple of hours before the big family gathering.
I was proud of King for pushing through his workout and sticking to the challenges he set for himself. I’m a firm believer that one should lead by example; before you invite someone on the journey, show them the path.
That afternoon, I got to reconnect with family members I hadn’t seen in years. Some I didn’t even remember, but I definitely heard their names before. Now I can finally match some faces to those names. We were honoring my late great-grandmother, so you can imagine the overlap of generations, all of us trying to piece the family puzzle together.
Day 3: We Kept It Simple
Everyone wanted to slow down and take it easy that day and do a little less. So I took the opportunity to visit some other family members I grew up with.
But again, who comes to Florida for just a few days and takes breaks? Not me.
When I say unplugging from everything, I mean it.
So I picked up my cousin, we drove out to the beach, grabbed a drink, and went about our day. Now, this may not seem like a big deal to everyone but let me tell you, Florida beaches never disappoint. I’ll just leave it at that.
Day 4: Time To Reconnect
Just like that, it was time to pack up and head back home to recharge and reconnect.
We don’t travel as much as we’d like, but when we do, we make sure the memories are worth every penny, even if it means going slightly over budget (with a buffer, of course). Because in the end, it’s those short, meaningful moments that truly matter.
I’ve seen so many people work their entire lives, sending money back home religiously, building houses they never even got the chance to live in.
Time is an illusion. Everything that’s meant to happen will happen.
So take the bleeping vacation.
Gio founded TheGrowthFocusedGuy in January 2020 because he was fed up with debt.
His mission is to document his journey to Financial Independence in order to motivate and inspire others to get out of debt and begin building generational wealth.
