In my halcyon days of youth (and a relatively nimble liver), my 2 best friends and I would embark on an annual rite of passage -- the EPCOT World Beer Tour. 12 beers in 12 hours, taking care to respect the Beer Tour Adventurer Code: Do Not Disrespect the Mouse or Disney Guests.
Perhaps not the wisest thing to do, but it was something to do, hence worthwhile to our addled minds.
Well, here we are, years later, successful professionals, health-conscious exercisers, church-going, happily-married fathers and respectable members of suburban society. The three of us live at some distance from each other, and this year marks our first opportunity in quite some time to get together for a "boys weekend". So, what have we chosen to do?
Camping? . . . . No. Campfires are redundant in the summer, and what's camping without fire? (Insert caveman grunt here.)
Fishing? . . . No. Our favorite fishing playground here on the Fla. west coast is plagued with red tide.
Golf retreat? . . . . . No. We play golf like Paris Hilton shows humility.
Boat show? . . . . .No. Boats are like pools -- I don't want to own one. I want my friends to own one.
Major League baseball game? . . . . No. Anyone check the Devil Rays' record these days?
Gambling junket? . . . . No. Short-term investing isn't for us.
Instead, we have each decided that spending a leisurely day of nostalgic reminiscing with Mickey, each other, and the equivalent of a mismatched 12-pack is our diversion of choice. Not long ago I posted a longwinded "Adventurers Guide" to EPCOT beer touring, but it was based on my own dated experiences. I look forward to being able to update the treatise from a more seasoned point of view.
Of course, the problem is that these days, with more money jingling in our pockets, we can afford a luxury like a room at the Swan so we can take a break in the p.m.. This means that it's quite likely our Tour may be aborted midway by the beckoning of a cool swimming pool and a bed to nap in. But we'll give it the old post-college try nonetheless. We owe it to all those who have followed in our somewhat erratic footsteps, and those who will do so in the future.
Wish us luck, and if you happen to be in EPCOT Saturday after next and you see three very good-looking middle-aged men (or three people who look like they wish they resembled good-looking middle-aged men) settling down to a cold Ringnes/Becks/TsingTao/ DosEquis/Moretti/Guinness/ Kirin/Casablanca/Moosehead/SamAdams/Kronenbourg/Windhoek, stop by and join us for a toast to our wives and children.
Perhaps not the wisest thing to do, but it was something to do, hence worthwhile to our addled minds.
Well, here we are, years later, successful professionals, health-conscious exercisers, church-going, happily-married fathers and respectable members of suburban society. The three of us live at some distance from each other, and this year marks our first opportunity in quite some time to get together for a "boys weekend". So, what have we chosen to do?
Camping? . . . . No. Campfires are redundant in the summer, and what's camping without fire? (Insert caveman grunt here.)
Fishing? . . . No. Our favorite fishing playground here on the Fla. west coast is plagued with red tide.
Golf retreat? . . . . . No. We play golf like Paris Hilton shows humility.
Boat show? . . . . .No. Boats are like pools -- I don't want to own one. I want my friends to own one.
Major League baseball game? . . . . No. Anyone check the Devil Rays' record these days?
Gambling junket? . . . . No. Short-term investing isn't for us.
Instead, we have each decided that spending a leisurely day of nostalgic reminiscing with Mickey, each other, and the equivalent of a mismatched 12-pack is our diversion of choice. Not long ago I posted a longwinded "Adventurers Guide" to EPCOT beer touring, but it was based on my own dated experiences. I look forward to being able to update the treatise from a more seasoned point of view.
Of course, the problem is that these days, with more money jingling in our pockets, we can afford a luxury like a room at the Swan so we can take a break in the p.m.. This means that it's quite likely our Tour may be aborted midway by the beckoning of a cool swimming pool and a bed to nap in. But we'll give it the old post-college try nonetheless. We owe it to all those who have followed in our somewhat erratic footsteps, and those who will do so in the future.
Wish us luck, and if you happen to be in EPCOT Saturday after next and you see three very good-looking middle-aged men (or three people who look like they wish they resembled good-looking middle-aged men) settling down to a cold Ringnes/Becks/TsingTao/ DosEquis/Moretti/Guinness/ Kirin/Casablanca/Moosehead/SamAdams/Kronenbourg/Windhoek, stop by and join us for a toast to our wives and children.
We leave next Thursday, and will begin our tour with a sampler for Sis and a black & tan for me at our favorite Rose & Crown. The next big decision is which direction to go in...........Canada I think and then full circle around World Showcase with a big finish at Big River for a Rocket Red. Somewhere along the way we will toast to our husbands and kids for being good sports and picking up the slack so we can run away from home for a few days!
