"Sometimes You Wanna Go Where Everybody Knows Your Name..."

That was the theme song for the show Cheers, set at a fictional bar in Boston, loosely based on the Bull'n'Finch Pub on Beacon Street a few blocks down from the State House, across the street from the famous ducklings at the Public Garden. There were never any characters like Sam Malone, or Carla, or the coach; although I did know a few people like Cliff, Norm, or Woody - if anything the TV characters were toned down versions of what the real local bar-flys are like. It's set in Boston for Chrissakes! The real Boston Irish could drink Norm under the table- they come out of the Black Rose after a Sox Game so 'faced they can't even feel the tear gas or the rubber bullets when the BPD tries to clear the streets! It's the only place I know where firing loaded weapons at unarmed civilians is considered "crowd control." Any assembly of more than ten people is considered a "riot" - don't they remember the Boston Massacre for crying out loud?!? ;-0

But I digress.

The point I wanted to make is that when I go on vacation, I want to do the OPPOSITE of the Cheers theme song- I want to go where NOBODY knows my name! And that partially explains why we went to the Poconos again this year. Not a whole lot going on, but it is very relaxing.

This year we rented a house (see pic) and every morning I had my coffee on the screened in porch watching deer and wild turkey run by. The internet access was spotty- I found a place in the kitchen where I could get two bars on my daughter's laptop but not on my wife's. But that was enough to check email every day. This was the first time we have rented a house vs a timeshare condo exchange so it was a learning experience for us. Saw Creek is a very extensive property- I had no idea how much was back there- we drove around and visited two pools (Top of the World, Mill Pond). I got to know my way around after the second day but I am glad I had printed the directions for the day we arrived. Eventually I figured out that most roads eventually cross Decker, and once you are on Decker, no matter which way you turn you eventually end up at the main gate. My 10 yr old daughter made up a song out of the directions (many words rhyme with Decker, Salisbury, Dorchester, and Winchester). The girls loved the air hockey/pool table in the basement, and since the Olympics were on television that week, they made their own medals out of cardboard and had a tournament.