Oh The Sunshine....
It must be just the ticket: sitting back in your deck chair, watching the young ones float in pool, or gazing out to sea as James brings you another Martini or Cosmo.
Some people have all the luck.
Trent Yates and partner Laura Jane Rose hold hands and smile, soaking up the island sunshine on their first cruise ship vacation.
Ejoying their upper cabin and elegant bathroom is one thing, but being out on deck with the young and the restless is more a pleasure than an indulgence.
As the nautical miles pass by, getting further away from their mortgage, the kids, the minivan and the dog, Trent and Laura seem to enjoy it even more.
As I see them order another $10 drink, I wonder how they managed to pay for their trip.
"It only cost us US$165 each for our tickets! We paid more than that for the limo to and from the airport!" Trent's excitement got the better of him, and his shirt drank most of his latest martini.
"But how? This must easily be a few thousand dollars worth of vacation!", incredulous at their retort.
"We're members of Club Freedom. The travel program earns us US$3500 in travel and US$3500 in cash - each - every five or 6 weeks.... so we just booked our first cruise here last month. We're off to Hawaii for Christmas. It's amazing!"
"We just book what we want, when we want, and go. Leave the kids with the grandparents and the minivan with cousin Jim, and we're off. The neighbours still think we won the Lottery!" Trent can hardly hold back his grin.
"My boss thinks my husband works for Microsoft or something. I just started my new job a few months ago and I'm the only one who requested unpaid leave every two months so we can get away from that awful grey cubicle!" Laura Jane beams back.
Who knew it could be so easy.
Trent passes me a business card, emblazoned with "Club Freedom Travel", a cruise ship, jet, and train. Must check that website in the onboard internet lounge before the next buffet.
More Information
Web: http://www.clubfreedom.biz/
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