Hmmm…it looks like my post got hit by the spammer as well.

Thank you for the comments Phil and Jane. I am not sure if “checked” out is the right word but over the past year I have rarely involved her in my life on purpose. It’s more of a proximity issue I guess when you are living under the same roof as someone. My response to her nagging at my travel plans has always been a pretty blunt “I am not telling you because I want you to come. I telling you that I will be going.” It’s similar to your quote Phil. I travel and I joined a Capoeira group because the two of the things that I wanted were to see the world and try some form of martial arts. I don’t want to live my life knowing that I never saw what I wanted to see or have the experiences I wanted to have.

I guess these holidays were particularly tough because it showed the distance between what I want and what the majority of my family wants. The economics of moving out in this economy in 2016 is still tricky. There is a real fear of job losses. But there is another option I have decided on for next year. There are beautiful mountains that I hike in during the summer by my city. If I re-adjust my entertainment budget slightly and vacation days I can rent a lodge room for a long weekend and get away from the family for a bit during the holidays to enjoy them in a more positive setting.