A Dilemma's Horns

My life is so strange. When I'm not presiding over my bookshop I'm usually traveling. I'm a food and travel freelance writer, and I'm on enough travel lists to burst my mailbox. Everyday I get notices of press trips and FAM (familarization) trips all over the world. Some I'm not qualified for - meaning I don't write for the markets they want - and some I can't leave my shop for. But a few "click" and everything falls into place and I'm off! Sometimes, however, too many "click"! Last year I was in China in the 3rd week of March, France for the 2nd week of April, Spain for the 2nd week of May, Brandywine Valley (PA) the 3rd week of July, Rio for the 2nd week of August and Spain again for the 3rd week of November. So how do I ever get any work done, you ask?

    This year I thought I would be good and keep my nose to the grindstone - really work in my bookshop. There is a Tunisia trip I had to decline because it takes place through Memorial Day weekend. I'm in retail - I can't close that weekend. When I told the promoters of my problem they countered with their next one after that - Christmas week! Too bad - it looked like fun.
Then I did my income taxes and found that I made as much money writing as I did selling books last year. Now I'm torn.

    I'm being considered for a France trip over mid April. It is mostly to promote the French regions where most of the WWI battles were fought. This is the 90th anniversary of the end of the War to end all wars, and they're looking for some tourism off it. As a food writer for Gather.com the meals would be a big help for my articles. They'll let me know on the 25th of March. My dilemma is that there is a Kenya trip overlapping those dates that I'm being considered for! All game preserves and native culture & food -- I'm so torn! The French trip is one of a series I'll be considered for (I went to France with them last April, and am planning on another trip in September, too) so I don't want to blow that connection, but AFRICA! I'd love to do that.

    There's also a Clearwater, Florida trip over 4 days from the end of April into early May. It's a soft outdoor adventure trip with kayaking, sailing and hiking around the mainland and on the islands offshore. Sounds like a lot of fun. I'm being considered for that. They'll let me know on March 26th if I'm accepted. My dilemma is that there is a week-long culinary festival in Martinique over the same time that I really want to go on. I need that food info for my gather articles. They'll let me know if I'm accepted on the 28th of March. Sounds as if I'll be juggling those two until Martinique commits. ARGH!!

    Now you know why I closed my shop one day in February to go to the NY Times Travel Show. It's all about connections! I'll be meeting my own planes or living in the airports if I take these gigs. So how do I ever get any work done? You tell me!