The journey begins before departure! (#2)
I don’t know if this is true for everyone, but for me, planning a trip is basically a vacation in its own right. Psychologists agree, apparently. They say trip planning is one of the most pleasurable parts of travel, and research shows that simply anticipating a trip can boost happiness and lower stress long before you even unzip your suitcase. Science says it’s good for me, so who am I to argue? We booked our flights back in November 2025, locked in some fantastic accommodations in December, and now—somehow—we’re only three months away! Which means it’s officially time for the really fun stuff: day tours, theater tickets, and deep-dive research that may or may not involve Gary's iPad, my laptop, and both our phones working all at once. (Oh, and I'm also listening to Edward Rutherfurd's enormous book, London , to get a bunch of historical background...Vikings, Romans, and more!). I have loved every second of our trip research. Honestly, it feels like our vacation has a...