Author: Tracey McAlpine
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In future I am forgoing possessions.  I would rather make memories!

I wonder if holidays are a bit like busses.  You wait for one for ages and then two come along together.  After our family trip to New York we were invited to join friends on a boat in Croatia.

 

Krka National Park

I’ve had never been to Croatia but judging by Instagram and Facebook it’s the place to be.  Seeing the Dalmatian coast line from the water is spectacular, we sailed from Split to Milna, Hvar, Korcula, Dubrovnik and Cavat.  We then carried on to Montenegro, stopping at Budva, Kotor and finally Tivat. 

National Park Krka and Lady of The Rock

Travelling by boat is a fantastic way to live in the moment, especially with limited internet access, you can really down tools and get away from it all.  Of course you need to like the company of your fellow guests and we were lucky that they were all friends.  The fabulous crew ensured we travelled safely and Michelle our hugely talented chef made sure we were extremely well fed!

 

Croatian Church
What struck me most while being on the boat was how important it is in your later life to make memories.  We have gained a huge amount of possessions over the years, some which are starting to become a burden.  Does anyone else have a loft brimming with ‘stuff’ that hasn’t been looked at for the last 30 years?  We have!  And I know it’s going to take a ridiculous amount of time to clear it all when we decide to move.  So in future I don’t want any more possessions, I would rather spend the money on a holiday.

 

Boats in Croatia Dubrovnik

One of our close friends on the boat has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, a cruel disease which slowly robs you of your life.  Although only in early stages, she has already had to give up so much.  Driving and going out on her own are no longer an option and it’s easy to see how frustrating it is for her and those closest to her.  What it hasn’t stolen are her past memories.  She can’t remember what she ate for breakfast but she can recount events that happened years ago.  Fabulous occasions with her children and grandchildren, special birthdays and holidays.

Recalling these memories are so important to someone who feels they can’t remember anything.  The memory works like a filing system, those memories that have been there for a long time and seen time and time again can easily be recalled.  Those filed more recently, on the top if it were, have barely been seen and quickly forgotten.

 

Dalmatian Coast

In a time when we all have far too many possessions, we should be making memories, spending time with loved ones, friends and family and creating our own internal photo album.  You never know when you might need to be able to think back to a time when you remembered everything.

I may have been on the missing list for most of September but, I was making special memories and maybe not all of my friends will remember them as clearly as I do, but I’ll be able to jog their memory and we will recall those happy times.

 

Croatia by night

If you get the opportunity to visit Croatia, then do it.  You won’t be disappointed, it’s stunningly beautiful, spotlessly clean and the people are warm and welcoming.

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