So my parents want me to go on this Leuva Patidar Samaj Youth Cruise to the Bahamas over Memorial Day with, like, sixty people (ages 21-35). I'm kind of torn. On the one hand, hanging out with lots of Indian people will maybe make me feel more Indian, and maybe I will find a suitable wife and/or friend. On the other hand, I can barely deal with parties full of strangers. Yet I am kind of curious to see how I handle it and it would be a new experience, possibly miserable though it may be? I don't know.

Toddson: that rocks!

They totally weren't doing that last time I was there - - which was in the 1970s.

(My family moved away from the area in 1979.)

On the one hand--oodles of strangers.

On the other hand--the Bahamas.

Hmmmm.

P-C - how many days would this cruise take? any land excursions, or would you have to stay on the boat the entire time? would you be able to have a room of your own, or share with a stranger? And, most importantly - would you be able to go off in a corner and read if you wanted or would togetherness be enforced?

I can never decide if I would love a cruise or not. I love the idea of being in a corner and watching the sea, but I'm also in the camp of "I will strangle you, Cruise Director Minion, if you suggest another insipid mingling opportunity."

Enforced togetherness can be hell.

And they recenly were broadcasting the Addams family movies ... I'm reminded of when Wednesday and Pugsley were sent off to camp. I suppose setting the boat on fire if they tried to force you into some sort of group activity would be a bit much. Not to mention fatal.

P-C - how many days would this cruise take?

It's just for the weekend, very short. Miami to the Bahamas. I figure the boat goes to the Bahamas on Friday, we Bahama it up over the weekend, and then we boat back on Monday. But the flyer has absolutely zero details because whatever, we're Indian, we don't know how to make websites (spoiler warning: there is no "more info" anywhere).

would you be able to have a room of your own, or share with a stranger?

It looks like everyone has roomies.

And, most importantly - would you be able to go off in a corner and read if you wanted or would togetherness be enforced?

I...I hope so?

I can never decide if I would love a cruise or not.

I've actually enjoyed the cruises I've gone on with my family. But I had my brother to hang out with.

Well, almost anything's endurable for a weekend. You might get a nice nerd for a roommate. Would the cost be prohibitive?

The cost of the cruise seems to be pretty cheap. It's getting to Miami that's expensive, although it looks like I have enough FF miles to do it.

Look at it this way, your normal routines have not yet yielded a girl, so doing something out-of-the-ordinary, might be just the thing. Couldn't hurt, anyway.