My previous Spring Breaks have been pretty typical.
I participated in the pandemonium of Panama City. I carelessly cruised the Caribbean. I sunbathed on the sandy shores of South Florida's beaches.
During all these adventures, I sipped on frothy beverages, bonged beers and made out with the "Holiday Inn guy" and the "Lido deck guy." I even entered a randy rump-shaking revue in Nassau, only to lose to my more talented butt-bopping bud.
I should have prefaced that this all happened when I was: A) single and B) 19, which are two factors making that type of behavior warranted and even expected.
But alas, I'm now coupled, committed and unable to continue that careless conduct. And frankly, I wouldn't want to.
It seems to me that Spring Break presents a uniquely different experience for those in relationships and those not.
Case in point: My plans for this break include my boyfriend and I visiting each other's families and going on various day trips that, at times, appeal more to one than the other. I'll go to Spring Training baseball games if he comes with me to the art museum.
Gone are the girly groups I used to travel with, which have been replaced by my boyfriend and our beagle.
The key difference here is intent.
When I was younger and single, the goal of Spring Break was always to get a tan, get toasted with the girls and find a guy to reiterate to me just how young, single, tan and toasted I was. Indeed, hooking up was an objective of all my trips and a necessity for having a "juicy story" to tell all my friends.
The goal of this trip is decidedly different: relax and impress the parentals. I doubt my "juicy stories" will do the trick there.
My point is that singles and those in relationships are often pitted against each other, perhaps unfairly so. Spring Break is no exception.
I'm sure there are fair shares of wild and crazy couples, and perhaps it's my age, not my relationship, that predisposes me to a certain kind of calm break.
I can't help but think I wouldn't be as game to shake my rear in front of 100 random Spring Breakers if my butt already had claims to it, though.
Truth is, I wouldn't change any of my breaks (that hungover morning where I vomited continually in St. Thomas not withstanding). It's those crazy vacations that allow me to enjoy the calm and collected break I'm about to have this year.
