Turning down bike tour opportunities

[shootingstar]

How often has this happened to you?
I don't mean just gazing at a travel brochure or pamphlet about a bike touring trip but actual invitations and opportunities provided by family member(s) or good personal friends.

Aiiiyaaahhh!
I chose not join my partner in his touring trip in Europe right now because it's just cheaper for me to be at home (since I'm looking for paid work now) instead of ..spending more eurodollars on food, etc. Besides part of trip for him (about 60%) is designed for biz-related purposes. Not all places are choice places for me.

But last year I too could not join him when he was there..but some different European cities. I was working.

Just recently turned down an invitation to bike touring from a couple to go to Cuba this Christmas.

Timing and not winning the lottery just ain't there in life.

[tulip]

Oh, those sound wonderful. Any chance you could do one somehow? I try to live my life with minimal regrets. I think passing up a bike trip to Cuba at Christmas would be regretful (for me).

I've been thinking about playing the lottery. But then I hear my father's voice: "It's a tax on fools!"

[NbyNW]

We turned down an invitation to spend three days riding around Vancouver Island this weekend. Did the same tour last year and it was wonderful, but the new doggy isn't ready for us to be away from him just yet

There is something to be said for taking a few days out to do something you love. Right now I am also looking for work -- as a freelancer -- and I sometimes have to remind myself to take a day off.

I'm going to make up for it by going on a nice long ride tomorrow.

[Zen]

If I could afford it I'd certainly postpone looking for work to go to Cuba.

Life really is short and you never know what's around the corner.

[shootingstar]

Cuba sounds interesting but at this time, it's not top in the list of my desired touring places in a lifetime.

As for taking opportunities to bike tour at right time in life, etc. Well, we already had a trip this past Jan. in Hawaii (after swapping with a cancelled snowshoeing trip in Canadian Rockies due to delayed trains), mini trips to Seattle and Portland earlier this year.

I just go cycling daily for 1-2 hrs. and remind myself we do live in a beautiful part of Canada which I still haven't experienced all its corners within a 200 kms. radius.

I started the topic thread, wondering what other people here had to give up/ignore in terms of touring/trip invitations.