Vacations have a way to provide perspective about your life and how you spend your time. My recent getaway on the island of St. Maarten/St. Martin gave me the pleasure to check off to-dos under my 2022 goals. Most significantly, I consider myself fortunate to cross off items under the Pure Joy/Fun and Adventure/Travel categories in my Commit30 planner. Allow me to elaborate briefly on three goals in this pictorial post.

I promise to share my recommendations for taking a family trip to this very special island. Soon!

Goal 1: Family Vacation to St. Maarten

St. Maarten/St. Martin, a two-nation Caribbean island (half Dutch and half French), is my happy place to unwind and recharge, so of course, it’s always on my travel list. My husband and I try to visit once a year; sometimes we’ll go twice, depending on other trips we may have planned.

Last year, we did our first family trip with my stepdaughters and their families staying on the Dutch side in St. Maarten, which was truly the highpoint of 2021. It was much needed break in our COVID-19 cocoon world. This year, the trip was just as wonderful in all respects – being on the island and being together. Hope you enjoy a few snaps of local scenes below.

Goal 2: Beach/Being on the Water

Like so many of us, being on the water beckons us, especially the ocean. The beaches on St. Maarten/St. Martin are stunning with spectacular topography and views of nearby islands. My favorite time on the beach is when it’s quiet, such as early or late in the day, when I can claim an interlude on my own. Check out some water scenes:

Goal 3: Special Time with Grandkids

Quality time with my littles brings me pure joy and that was my favorite part of the trip. I chronicled time spent with the grandkids – Lily, 8, Matteo, 6, and Joe, 5 – with photos and notes in my journal. I hope some of these photos will illustrate the joy of our time together.

Reaching Goals for Happiness

To wrap up this post, I ask you to contemplate: What brings you pure joy? What adventures are on your wish list this year? It might seem silly, but just jotting down some “happiness” goals helps you commit to fulfilling them, no matter how big or small. 

As the expression goes: Life is short. Book the trip. Buy the shoes. Eat the cake.

TAKE A TRIP TO ST. MAARTEN/ST. MARTIN: Check out my post on seven reasons why to take a vacay to this island destination!