My husband who works all the time, has stuff that has to be handled next week and the next week and probably the next week. So while our children are playing volleyball on the beach we'll be home in the quiet.

Oh yeah, the quiet. We'll have ten days of quiet. No kids coming and going. Phone won't be ringing. The computer and big screen television will be open and available.

Maybe this won't be so bad. After all it is 75 degrees today. What's the worse it will be -- 49 degrees at night? I'll sleep better in the cold.

It'll be quiet, no music thumping from the basement. I won't be tossing and turning from sunburn or not able to get comfortable because of all the sand in my britches.

I do have a couple of new books to read. My husband and I can eat out and never go to the grocery store.

I see out the window it has begun raining.

Okay, I'm not convincing myself, let alone anyone else. I would much rather be on the beach, sunburned and sandy.