Putting some final details together for our upcoming trip to Cozumel. Picked up my regulator form local dive shop after getting serviced. Now I need to call the airlines we are taking to try to better understand what kind of luggage charges we can expect. To top it off, I am hearing on the news this morning that some airlines will now be charging for carry-ons as well. Unbelievable! They feel compelled to charge for everything now to get your hard earned....and saved...money. I'm not rich, so how do they expect us to be able to continue to travel and "stimulate" the economy if they keep pushing prices higher?

It seems you cant get non stop flights to your destination anymore either. What once was a 2 1/2 hour flight from home to the beach is now half day or more of travel and layovers! That's what happens when an airline moves its hub city and airline traffic dwindles away.

Next week I will be taking my wife to a pool session with a group of students from the dive shop to refresh her skills. She is looking forward to it but is nervous since she seems to have forgotten most everthing in the 5 years since she last got wet! Starting from scratch.

I think I will be getting in the pool as well since I haven't dove since last summer. I used to go diving several times a month but life is a bit more hectic now and dive time isnt as easy to schedule any more! How life changes as you grow older!

My final checklist of bug spray, suncreen, chapstick, Ibuprofrin, extra batteries and a supply of dollar bills for tips . Everything operates on tips in Cozumel and batteries for cameras and lights are hard to find and expensive when available. Just when I think I've got it all together , then there is something else to get. One of these days I'm going to pack a single bag and get a one way ticket and stay a while! My goal before I die!!