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Dear Aunty Pam,

Can you please settle an argument between my husband and me? 

This happens every year when we’re planning our summer vacation.  I like to go to the beach, so I’m always up for Florida or Folly Beach, something like that, or even renting an AirBnB by a lake. But all my husband, Larry, wants to do is go to Gatlinburg, Tenn. 

We have tried to take turns choosing, where one year I get to choose where we go and the next year Larry chooses. This isn’t working because Larry keeps choosing Gatlinburg. I HATE Gatlinburg. I’ve been twice and I just think it’s really overrated and cheesy. It’s also really crowded. Larry likes going to the attractions, and especially those ‘Dinner and a Show’ places, and I can’t stand them.

This year it’s Larry’s turn and, yep, he’s choosing Gatlinburg. Please don’t tell me to grin and bear it because I hate it so much. I come home frustrated and resentful because, to me, I haven’t had a vacation at all. I’ve just been dragged to some place I hate for a week. 

Our vacation is coming up at the end of July. HELP!!

Signed,

Larry’s Wife

Dear Wifey,

I must say, Aunty Pam feels a little sorry for Larry. I can just see him splashing on the Aqua Velva and bounding out to the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show over there in Pigeon Forge (so I’ve been told). And you did make this agreement that each year, one or the other of you get to choose your vacation destination. Evidently, you didn’t realize your hubs was going to choose the same place until the rest of his natural life. And I do sympathize that being dragged somewhere, kicking and screaming, isn’t much of a holiday either.

Luckily, Aunty Pam is a Libra and likes things to be even keeled. Remembering that you mentioned you enjoy lakes as well as oceans, I trotted to the google machine where, lo and behold, I found TEN lakes all within driving distance from Gatlinburg! And pretty much every lake I found is open for swimming, kayaking, fishing, etc. Douglas Lake is a mere 23 miles away! Might Larry consider renting an RV to camp at one of these lakes and then drive into town for the Elvis tribute show and fudge shops?

This way, you can stay in a nice, clean RV that gives you the peace and tranquility you seek and an opportunity to see a bit of the Smokies, because, frankly, just outside of Gatlinburg are some really beautiful places worth exploring.

That’s all I’ve got. Good luck! 

Cheers, dears!!

Aunty Pam