(photo via www.discover-eleuthera-bahamas.com)

As a teenager, my dad used to ask me this question anytime I said, “But everyone else is doing it!!”  Wearing leggings, getting ears pierced, going on dates, staying out past midnight… all activities that I was never cool enough to do as soon as everyone else because my father would kill the argument with one question: “If everyone was jumping off a cliff, would you do it?”

As an adult, I can appreciate that the question was probably meant for more sinister things that teenagers can get into, like drugs or gasp! sex…  He didn’t want me to get into a situation where the ONLY reason I was doing something is because EVERYONE ELSE WAS DOING IT. But as a teenager, I was convinced he was the devil set on keeping me as unhappy as possible through my teen years.

Fast forward to today.

I’m 30 years past the teenage angst, but my dad’s voice haunted me this morning, as Matt and I have been discussing going to the Bahamas for two weeks before heading up the east coast. Besides wanting to go because Bahamas! Matt and I are feeling like we have to go because EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING IT!

Our friends on Independence, All In, The Riot, The Kraken, and TearAway – are already there… I keep seeing their gorgeous Instagram posts and Facebook updates.  Our friends on Totem and Izula are prepping to leave soon. And I totally feel like that moody teenager who feels left out while everyone else is going to the party. Then my dad’s voice chimes in, “If everyone was jumping off a cliff, would you do it.”  As a teenager, I would have slumped my shoulders, lowered my head, sighed and said, “no.” But as an adult? I AM TOTALLY JUMPING OFF THAT CLIFF! That actually SOUNDS FANTASTIC.

So, what does that mean? WE’RE GOING TO THE BAHAMAS! We’re going to the Bahamas!

Well, we are going assuming that we do all of the adult things we need to do first, like get a pet permit, make sure our boat is ready, buy provisions, and Matt has to take a two-week vacation from work. Not quite as cool as just leaving as soon as a weather window opens. We probably won’t get over there until April… and we are a little worried that we won’t ever want to come back… but that is a risk we are willing to take.

We’re jumping off the cliff! With everyone else! And we are so excited!

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