As many of you know, my family and I are heading to New York this summer to help the economy.  :)  Okay, more seriously, we are going to visit my sister-in-law and her new baby (he was born on March 1st).  However, I didn’t want to fly for many reasons.

I don’t care how many times everybody keeps saying they don’t pat down kids.  I have seen 100s of videos on YouTube where they have.  Except, I would be getting arrested, because I couldn’t stand there while they fondle my kids (security my ass.  More like security theater.)  So I take my money where my mouth is — we are not flying.  Also, you have crap like this (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-belkin/children-on-airplanes_b_1492051.html) where you have people who take their position to the extreme.  I don’t need that crap.    Plus, flying would cost us a ton of money.

We had many reasons to drive besides not wanting the TSA patdown.  It is cheaper to drive even with gas as expensive as it is.  As a family, we drive to Green Bay all the time.  However, my kids haven’t really gone anywhere else.  After our disastrous trip to Florida without a car several years ago, we learned the importance of having a car.  (We flew on that trip before all these stupid TSA rules were in play).  Plus, we are looking at sightseeing along the way, so my kids can see more of the country!  Lastly, we are being loaned a Cadillac Escalade.  That vehicle alone is worth driving!  To be honest, a Cadillac Escalade gets around the same gas mileage as the van I drive everyday.  Plus, there are some features it has that my van doesn’t like 3 DVD players.  I wish we were a family that could all get along on a car ride.  We are not.  Instead, I have no problem flipping on a DVD and with 3 players, there is no fighting over what movie we are watching (WOOOHOOOOO!!)  Some other really cool features are GPS (which I need), satellite radio, heated and cooled seats, and cooled cupholders.  The really cool thing is that since it seats 8 adults, both families will fit in here for any sightseeing we do in New York.  (There are about 100 cool features that the Escalade has, but these were the ones I cared about the most!).

I am super excited for our trip.  Are you flying for your summer vacation?  Why or why not?