Maria thinks it’s time we went to the ocean for a weekend this Spring, so we opened up our stuffed piggy bank and have become counting our pennies, dimes, and quarters (nickels too) and putting them in rolls.

I agree this has been a challenging winter, and we would both love to sit by the ocean and read and talk for a day or two. It refreshes the soul. I love seafood too.

Sometimes, I dream of fresh lobster rolls.

The last time we did this was five years ago when we raided the piggy bank to help pay for our latest real vacation, a trip to New Mexico.

Since then, we’ve figured out short, sweet two or three-day getaways. This replenishes our energy and spirits.

We got nearly $300 last night and figured a few hundred dollars more. It will take a week or so to add it all up.

We gave up real vacations some time ago, it isn’t in keeping with our lifestyle or finances. We don’t have much money in reserves, and leaving a farm with animals for a couple of weeks isn’t sustainable.

Our lives changed when we got together, and both of us got divorced; we made the trade-off. I lost my savings, and Maria gave up most of hers.

It was a good deal. We get to live the lives we want together and give up some of the things we used to do. I’ll trade happiness and love for security any day.

We’re thinking of going to Maine or New Hampshire for a weekend in May or June. Our piggy bank will help us get there.

The coins will cover our hotel room; we can handle the lobster dinners (yum.)

We have a good time rolling up the coins; it suits anal and compulsive people; it is fun to see those rolls stack up.