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MY WORD - 07/09/2008
(by Holly Stewart - OpEd Columnist - July 08, 2008)
The art of staycation
To be able to fill leisure intelligently is the last product of civilization. – Bertrand Russell
With gas prices and airline fares at all-time highs, many Americans are taking the easy way out for their vacation time this year: They’re staying home. The term “staycation” has been created in the wake of this phenomenon. Defined by urbandictionary.com as “a vacation that is spent at one's home enjoying all that home and one's home environs have to offer,” the staycation has become the way to spend time off cheaply. Once considered the realm of the pathetic and unimaginative, staying home has become cool.
Some of us, it seems, have been trailblazers in this regard. I’ve been enjoying the staycation for years now without realizing what a trendsetter I was. There are many reasons why I don’t usually go away; primarily, even though business slows down in the newspaper industry, summer is my husband’s busy season, so I’m likely to be traveling without him. Another reason is that I’ve been working here so long I have four weeks vacation and you’d best believe I’m going to take every minute of it.
A 2005 study by the Families and Work Institute found that nearly a third of employees with paid time off don’t take it all. They’re afraid they’ll get too far behind with their work or that they’ll spend too much money if they go away. Gosh that’s sad. To my way of thinking, there is no nicer way to spend a July morning than floating around in my kayak or rowboat, catching fish and the sun’s rays. It’s fun to remind yourself that you’re getting paid while goofing off, too. I know it sounds like I’m gloating; I suppose I am.
Usually I only take a day or two off at a clip; this works best with my hectic weekly schedule, and it also reinforces the staycation ideal. It’s hard to go away for just three or four days. Many people who try to cram in a trip with too little time are more exhausted when they return. That’s not relaxing at all. And certainly there are plenty of things to do in this region with only a few days to spare. Like culture? See a museum or an opera in New York City. Sports fan? There’s likely to be a professional team playing nearby. Beach bum? You’ve got your choice of dozens of hot spots within a few hours’ drive. And if you’d rather do nothing at all, that can be therapeutic, too. Invest $40 in a good hammock and some bug spray.
Right now I happen to be in the middle of a 10-day staycation. By my standards, this is nearly an eon, but it’s necessary in order for me to truly unwind. I thought about driving up to visit friends in Vermont and New Hampshire but decided I needed as little structure as possible. Work’s been stressful and I need to feel like I can do whatever I want, whenever I want for at least a few days running. So that’s what I’m doing. I might get on my motorcycle for a jaunt around Greenwood Lake one day then follow it up with a leisurely lunch on the deck at the Rainbow Inn. Or I might pack a sandwich and some bait and hike up to Buckabear Pond to fish the western end of Clinton Reservoir. On the other hand, I might just sleep late and read a novel in the comfort of my own bed. Sounds thrilling, doesn’t it?
This is a competitive world. We have to be constantly at the top of our respective games when we are out and about in the workforce. Just commuting to work is a struggle sometimes. So why make your vacation a race, too? Turn that Type A personality off and force yourself to shut down for a little while. Let your brain and body chill out for real and you may be surprised what you’re capable of after a few days’ rest. The work will still be there for you when you return.
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