On the road...

We arrived a couple hours early so I wrote a lot....

Our Pursuit of Happiness tour includes doing new things.. Its fun to explore.. and learn.. and road test stuff.
To start..we tried a dirt cheap airline.. No frills..
Norwegian.. They just opened a route from Stewart Airport in Newburg NY to Dublin.. We went cold turkey on frills.. Made me nervous..
No checked bag...no seat assignment..no food...no drinks or peanuts..
Just to see what its like...and learn.
Norwegian was about $500 less for 2 seats to dublin than any airline out of Bradley..not as convenient..a 2 hour ride .. But Stewart is easy to get to..except Waterbury traffic on I84...easy parking..no lines..its not JFK..BOS or EWR...thats good..
I worried about bags. Heard lotsa stories of folks getting smacked for bag fees because they were over size or weight.. I worried about seats..we didnt reserve and all that was left to buy were 2 separate last row middle seats..what if my knees were crushed in short seats..
I worried about getting bumped..its a full flight..and we couldnt check in until we arrived at airport...i worried about a 115 mile trip down 84 during rush hour..
We heard the radio report about a flipped truck near a waterbury exit..and big delay.
Ok..my head was ready to explode...anxiety overdose..

I dont travel as much as i used to.. So im not in the flow.. I questioned the price of cheap... Is it worth it?
Is all the anxiety worth the stress on happiness for the adventure..

Well.. We got to the airport in plenty of time...bypassed the big accident on 84 on a google map reroute back road.

Aaahh...but..
We were pulling into the airport and our Cape Cod House renter called and
told us the water hose to the washing machine burst and flooded the cellar..
BOOM..
Exploded head...

Got to the gate...right when the buses arrived so that line was long... And texting everyone..trying to manage a crisis and high travel anxiety.. Is this fun?  What else could go wrong..

Then like magic...good karma landed at Stewart....

 My wonderful renters bail out the cellar, fix the washer hose..pull the rugs so they can dry..set up fans and crank up the dehumidifier.. They got it covered..wow..we have always had the best renters...very happy about that..
Then...after 25 minutes in the Norwegian line.. Our bags passed muster.. We got 2 seats in row 14 next to each other.. We were the only ones in TSA line...got a beverage and food to go..and boarded in group C - with plenty of overhead stowage...
Boy, was I happy..my wonderful wife and happiness tour travel mate was happy... I felt it ..we shared it... Bigly..
The stress relief and elation cocktail I was served was better than any bar drink buzz producer I ever had..
Woo hoo..

This is a long story and connected to our Pursuit of Happiness..
We can control lots of outcomes...we can guide some...and there are lots we can't.  But we should always make efforts to try.. And not give up..
On the happiness meter.. As we may set new benchmarks, I ask if happy outcomes we control register higher or lower on the scale than the unexpected ones...?

Things don't always work out the way we hope..or wish.. But a lot more happens when we guide and push..

So far the first lap on this happiness road test has been great..

I will try more brevity moving forward...

....Epilogue...
Easy flight...breezed thru customs in DUB..got a taxi and a quick ride to the hotel..
And..they put us in the honeymoon suite..
Im happy...