Deck 8, Cabin 8044

I went on a cruise to avoid my family reunion

Every year my extended family has a reunion at my aunt's lake house. Every year I attend and spend three days smiling through passive-aggressive comments about my career, my relationship status, and my cooking. This year I told everyone I had a work trip that could not be moved. I booked a solo interior cabin on MSC Seashore and spent the reunion week floating through the Mediterranean eating pasta and reading novels. My cousin texted me a photo of the lake house and said 'You are missing the fun!' I was standing in a piazza in Rome with gelato and a clear conscience. I will probably do this every year now. The lake house will manage without me. My aunt's potato salad was overrated anyway.