Any hope I had of taking a far-away vacation this year was slashed by my tax man, who said I owe money this year. It doesn’t make sense why I owe this year and have never owed in the past (except for when I do lots of freelance work — which I didn’t do this year), but there you have it.

So I guess Ireland and Italy will have to wait another year, as will Austin, Key West and New Orleans. I do have a weekend trip to Destin, Fla., booked, mostly because we drive down and do it on the cheap. And I’d love to do Nashville again — maybe for Pride? — and check out St. Louis, which I’ve never been to.

2017 will be the year of the road trip.