Every summer we head for the shores of North Carolina for a two week stay in an ocean front rental. We have been in several rentals over the years and one thing we have learned is that no matter how nice the rental there are just certain things that they don’t have and you need. A few years ago we began assembling a vacation box. It is a large green plastic tote box from Lowes. Here are some of the things that are in our box:
- Sharp kitchen knives. No matter where we have stayed the knives are always dull.
- A small cutting board. We just really like to have our own since there are many things that can be cut on a cutting board.
- A screw driver.
- A pair of scissors.
- An extension cord.
- Band aides
- Dish towels. There are never enough.
- A deck of cards.
- Note paper for keeping score when playing cards and to make grocery lists.
- A small tray to carry drinks to the beach.
- Plastic cups. A lot of the houses we have stayed in have glasses made of glass and plastic is just easier for the beach.
- A nice frying pan with a lid. Often the frying pans are “well used” and they tend to burn things.
- Storage containers with lids. We just use the Glad ones.
- Skewers for kabobs.
- Small clock radio. There usually is one in each bedroom but often they do not work.
- A hand operated can opener.
- Measuring cups and spoons.
Our box also has an assortment of things that are left over from the previous year such as garbage bags, aluminum foil, paper plates, napkins, and anything that is left such as salt, pepper etc. that we do not want to throw away. We did have a rolling pin, but found that an empty wine bottle works just as well. Besides being practical it is fun to check out the box each year and see what is in there.
Journal entry Saturday May 25, 2013 a continuation:
If you recall my last post detailed a trip to Ocracoke Island where I fell asleep and thought I had slept all night when in reality it was 6 PM not 6AM as I thought.
*While I was napping Liza and Charlie had an adventure of their own. Liza: We went in search of a shirt for Gregg. The shops was closed. On the walk I needed to use the bathroom. We stopped at Creekside to use their bathroom. Since they are for patrons only, we had to buy a drink. The bartender was a former lawyer from Baltimore. He and his girlfriend had stopped in Fredericksburg on their way here. We talked and laughed with them and the other patron, and HV/AC guy form Berryville for quite a while. It was funny. Also, they were out of white wine so they served me sparkling wine in a large bowl shaped glass, filled to the top, and only charged me $2.00.
May 26, 2013: Up and out to run and walk at 7:45. It would have been earlier, but Liza’s wallet is missing. A search began and it has not been found. Was it lost during yesterday’s adventure? Liza and Charlie stopped at some of the places they had been the previous day to look for it. No luck. We went our for lunch and continued the wallet search. Still no luck. When we got back to the house we sat around and relaxed. Liza and Charlie were sitting in the sun when Charlie’s phone rang. I took it outside to him. It was the sheriff’s office. Someone returned Liza’s wallet and deputies are on their way to return it. I see a cruiser coming by slowly and I yelled. “Wallet-wallet-wallet!” It was returned with everything still in it.