11/12/2023
I decided to cancel Nelchina and my trip to Florida for the 2023 AKC Agility Invitational. She is the Number 2 Chesapeake for this year's qualifying period. I will miss the event and seeing my friends - but NOT the trip getting there then getting home! Good luck to all - and also safe travels!
When I put together a list of Pros (go to Florida) and Cons (stay home this year), I was very surprised to see how short the Pro list was versus how long the Con list was!
Some of my reasons:
* I usually don't have two big trips within 8 months of each other (6600 mile, 3+ week road trip to Utah and back in September with RV trailer and all 8 dogs and upcoming Grand Canyon float trip Adventure with friends in April)
* Florida in December is an expensive trip (health certificate, $300 for Nelchina in cargo fee, vehicle rental, hotel, critter care for the other dogs left at home including cats and chickens, 55,000 miles for Alaska Airlines ticket, ...)
* "Possible" PTSD from 2022 adventure getting Deshka and I home after Alaska Airlines would not allow us to fly thru Seattle due to forecasted adverse weather🤣😂 (just that change of plans added over $500 to the trip budget and a ton of stress)
* 7 plus days impact to my life (would have been gone from December 13-19 plus time on each end getting ready to go then recovering from trip)
* my pack and I are still adjusting to recent loss of senior dogs Kluane and Kach
* (not a deciding factor ... but....) the confusion and uncertainty about the recent canine respiratory issue
Inde and I made our first trip to the AGI in 2010 - the last year the event was held on the west coast (California). Back then, AKC planned to rotate the big national event on some schedule between the east and west coast. That did not happen. Florida is a lovely place to visit --- but easily a 7700 mile round trip for us Alaskans (combination flight miles to Atlanta and driving miles to Orlando -- both directions). Look at a map - you cannot get much farther away from Alaska than Florida and still be in the USA! Hawaii is closer!
I've attended 9 AGI's (Inde 2010, 2011 and 2012); Niki (2015); Kach (2017, 2018 and 2019); and Deshka (2021 and 2022). Hopefully Nelchina and I will stay competitive and be invited to the 2024 AGI!
Now to enjoy a more relaxed/less stressful December! Revive my Annual Christmas/Holiday letter and send cards/emails to friends, watch my favorite Christmas/Holiday movies, bake cranberry nutbread for friends ... AND ME, enjoy the holiday lights (zoo, botanical gardens, homes) ......