Oh, that really is a BUMMER, SCFoodie.

Congratulations on your 25th Wedding Anniversary - I hope you find a nice way to celebrate closer to home this year as you contemplate next year's whopping, 26th Anniversary celebration trip to Italy Best of luck on the job hunt.

~MarnieWDC

Thanks MarnieWDC! We did have a fun time celebrating #25 here at home. It helps that we live in beautiful San Clemente, CA. And I'm confident something good will happen on the job front very soon.

I'm so sorry to hear that, SC. We were planning to go to Italy in 2003 but had to cancel just a few weeks before so I could have surgery. We finally got there in 2005 and it was definitely worth the wait. The middle week of our three weeks there was spent in Montepulciano and it was wonderful.

2012 will be here before you know it and you'll have that much more time to plan and dream. I don't know if you've read it, but "Under the Tuscan Sun" helped me get over the delay (read the book; the movie was much different and not great except for the scenery).

When you get to Montepulciano be sure to go to the Cafe Poliziano. Sit out on one of the tiny balconies and have your coffee hovering over the most beautiful valley you've ever seen.

And happy anniversary!

Can you rethink your decision? My husband was unemployed for one year. Traveling helped us get through last year emotionally. Now he has a new job, but no vacation time yet. We don't regret the money we spent while we had the time.

Hi goddesstogo - we've been to Montepulciano and absolutely loved it. Obviously so much that we can't wait to go back. Cafe Poliziano was great! So good to hear that you loved it also. Sometimes the things we have to wait just a little longer for can be even more sweet once we get to experience them.

Hi Images2 - Emotionally it would be great to "get away" but financially I just can't take the risk. The vacation savings stay put in the bank for now, but if the worst happens (no job and unemployment compensation runs out) that money will probably have to be used to pay daily expenses or become our emergency fund. Once I get a job, I'll take the two weeks off without pay to go on the trip - I can handle two weeks without pay! And great news that your husband has a new job! That is so encouraging to hear.

I have booked the apartment in Montepulciano for next year. Plan on booking the other accomodations later this year. Won't be looking at airfare until I have a job.

On a positive note - we get to spend 3 days/2 nights in Long Beach, CA this weekend (about 1.5 hours north of where we live.) Using points for one night in the hotel and got a great deal on Priceline for the other night. It will be like a mini-vacation! Since we're driving there, we can take a lot of our own beverages and snacks, and just eat out for dinner. (Going there because I'm running in the Long Beach Half Marathon.)

When we were staying in Montepulciano a few years' ago we often went to Cafe Poliziano and my friend took some pictures of my husband, daughter and I sitting on the chairs on that wonderful balcony. After our return a few weeks later I found a beautiful framed picture of the same balcony at T.J. Maxx.
We just had to cancel a first time trip to California so Long Beach sounds wonderful. Good luck in the Marathon!

Just think, SC, you get to do the "anticipation thing' all over again and isn't that part of the fun? Just pretend you went and had a great time and you're going back next year

I had to postpone my yearly trip to Paris in September because I just couldn't afford the airfare this year. So I'm patting myself on the back for being so sensible and looking forward to a trip in 2012.

Okay, feeling smug for being sensible isn't all it's cracked up to be (as you now know), but it's something...

Why don't you add on a little extra time for your 2012 trip as your reward for being patient while the job search continues? You'll be able to do a little more planning in the meantime and keep the dream alive

Best of luck that the job application gods start smiling soon.

Sensible, yes. Easy to accept, no. I feel your pain.

Congratulations on your 25th---quite an achievement and something to celebrate, no matter where you are!

Oh, and I like the idea of "adding on" a little something special next year in compensation!

We also postponed an anniversary (our 20th) trip to Italy this past June. I suddenly lost my teaching job and though my husband remains fully employed, it seemed like the right thing to do given the state of our economy. I look forward to next year because we'll better prepared. But, oh how I ache for London and the rest of Europe. So, just to let you know you're not alone as I join you in experiencing Europe via the wonderful trip reports found here!

Hi SC...my husband and I just got back from our Tuscany vacation, seven days of which were spent in Montepulciano. I can somewhat empathize with you because this trip was scheduled two years ago for our 30th wedding anniversary but my husband developed a medical condition that put him to medical disability. The trip therefore was put in the back burner until we reassessed our financial situation, how much disability he would receive and if we could still afford our current lifestyle. We already had the money for the trip but we figured we might need the money to pay for mortgage, etc.

When the dust settled, we both decided we can cut corners on other items such as dining out and build up funds for our now 32nd anniversary. As we were building our vacation fund, I did intensive, detailed research, that when we did go on our vacation, it felt like deja vu when we visited the towns.

My husband and I agreed that this was our best vacation yet, traveling without kids since we just became empty nesters. It was so meaningful because inspite of his medical disabilty, he is still capable of traveling, driving around Italy, this time slowing down with a very flexible schedule and honestly really appreciating each other and vowing to be more patient and loving. No one is for sure what tomorrow brings.

I know you mentioned you have reserved your apartment already. We stayed at an Agriturismo three kilometers from Montepulciano. The view from the villa is worth a million dollars. If you feel inclined visit the Villa Mazzi website and determine if you may be able to rethink your current reservations.

Congratulations on your 25th anniversary!