As we call it in the United States — a vacation is the same as a holiday in other countries. Whatever you call it, I need one of those things. I was remarking to my boss, “I haven’t had a real vacation in a decade.”<\/p>\n
His reply–
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\n“Get out of here! Go have fun! Climb aboard that iron horse of yours and get lost!” <\/p>\n
Well, the “get lost” part is the easiest of his suggestions for me to accomplish. The rest… not so much. <\/p>\n
Okay, I have some vacation time coming to me, plus several days more of negotiated extra leave. I have some money in a savings account that I put away just for this purpose, so money isn’t an issue (within reason.) <\/p>\n
However, there have been many reasons each of the past 10 years that I have not taken a vacation — caregiving for my uncle and aunt during the winters of their respective lives, and of my partner-now-spouse after surgeries and during severe illness, as well as a couple summers when I was “transitioning employment,” have kept me grounded close to home.<\/p>\n
I have taken at least a week off work each of the past ten summers, and did a “staycation.” That is, I took off but stayed at home. I rode my Harley with some buddies, visited family, renovated houses, and built things. This year, however, I have been very busy with the construction project in our back yard, so the last thing I want to do during a week off is to do more of the same.<\/p>\n
I have dreamed about climbing astride my Harley and taking off on some nice roads, see the scenery, get the bugs in my teeth… but two things are holding me back: 1) my spouse cannot ride with me (physical disability prevents that), and 2) I have to stop much more frequently and end the ride sooner than my local biker buddies will tolerate. As yet, I haven’t found a riding buddy who can put up with the slow pace and requirement for at least 8 hours of sleep each night that my chronic health condition requires.<\/p>\n
I have thought about traveling somewhere, like to Australia, Italy, Hawaii, or even domestically, but the same physical disability that my spouse has which prevents him from riding as a passenger on my Harley is the same thing that prevents him from being able to be seated comfortably in an airline seat. So no flying anywhere. (And I will not go on a vacation without my spouse… not fair to him and I would miss him too much!)<\/p>\n
I could, possibly, drive somewhere. Thing is, I get like a caged animal when I am confined behind the wheel of a car. I hate driving long distances. I would rather take another staycation and build a whole house than drive for hours and days. <\/p>\n
Well… I am looking for somewhere to go within a relatively short driving distance that my spouse and I can go for a while to relax and not work. That’s right… NOT work. Me, BHD, NOT work. (I have to keep repeating that!)<\/p>\n
Life is short: take a vacation!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As we call it in the United States — a vacation is the same as a holiday in other countries. Whatever you call it, I need one of those things. I was remarking to my boss, “I haven’t had a … Continue reading