Hawaii
This is our future vacation. Keele talks of going to the University of Hawaii for college, Dakota wants to see Pearl Harbor, and I just want my toes in the warm sand and to swim in the ocean. I am not sure why Fred wants to go, probably just to make us happy.
My dad was stationed in Pearl Harbor on tugs his first hitch in the Navy in 1950, just after the war. He was again stationed in Hawaii in 1970. Home on leave to Baker, Oregon he meet my mom, who eventually joined him in Hawaii and they got married in October of 1970. In 1976 we returned to Pearl Harbor when I was 5 years old. I have not been back since we left in 1981.
I loved Hawaii as a kid and wish I could give my kids the outdoor life I had while there. The weather is fantastic and people are naturally more active. It is very removed from the weeks of no sun we get here. I am afraid that if I go, I will not want to come back home. I do think I would enjoy one of the other islands though, Oahu is different from what people have told me.
Dakota spent many hours talking to his grandpa about Pearl Harbor and wants to see it in person. History has always intrigued him. I was on the USS Arizona memorial when I was young, and look forward to taking Dakota there. My dad retired while we were there and his retirement flag was flown over the memorial before it was presented to him. I have that flag and will pass it on to Dakota.
Keele loves the outdoor lifestyle that Hawaii can offer her. She loves the beach and the ocean. She would have so much fun doing all the sporting stuff available and just playing in the water. I think that if she is able she will live someplace warm by the ocean.
Fred just wants us all to be happy. Maybe we need to do a Nascar vacation first and then just move to Hawaii. We can all be happy that way!