Vacations where you don't go anywhere, C/D

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So my girlfriend and I have a six day vacation (Thurs - Tues) starting tomorrow. The plan is just to clean the apartment, get stuff in order, cook, and basically not be at work.

On one hand I think it's great. We wanted to go see the Trinity bomb site or possibly volunteer in New Orleans, but the money and time just aren't there and we're trying to become LESS stressed out.

On the other hand, we don't get that much vacation time and I'm trying to convince myself it's not a missed opportunity.

Has anyone else done this?

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 13:15 (twenty years ago)

― The Ghost of Black Elegance (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 13:18 (twenty years ago)

I always try to get away for a bit -- as I see it, I do enough lounging around at home on the weekends (as well as cleaning up the place and etc.) that if I have a chance to get extended time off, I'd much rather go out of town. Just personal preference, though, and from the sound of it, you'll be relaxing, catching up on things and enjoying life. Why complain?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 13:19 (twenty years ago)

CLASSIC. The relaxation of a vacation without the stress of travel (tickets, timetables, delays, etc.).

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 13:20 (twenty years ago)

I do this a lot, partly because like Nick I don't find the tickets, timetables, delays parts of holidays relaxing and partly because we rarely have any money.

But you do need to make sure it's not JUST domestic routine. Set aside some moments to step back and enjoy your togetherness - maybe see/do something local to you that you've never seen/done before or seomthing.

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 13:31 (twenty years ago)

Alternatively, just have a week of constant eroticism and don't even leave the house.

― Forest Perv (ForestPines), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 13:36 (twenty years ago)

I would def go SOMEWHERE in this time if only for one of those six days.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 13:36 (twenty years ago)

By the second day of your 'stay-in' vacation you'll be climbing the walls anyway, is my guess.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 13:41 (twenty years ago)

I did this for a week and a half in between jobs over Easter. It was amazing - first time I've had in years to completely relax without feeling any pressure to actually do anything.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 13:42 (twenty years ago)

Not necessarily! If you have a partner that you like spending time with, it's perfectly feasible to spend a week indoors just watching DVDs, eating, talking and shagging.

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 13:44 (twenty years ago)

Hell yeah! And, um, carpet cleaning and paying bills and stuff.

I will keep ILX updated on my stir craziness or (almost definitely) lack thereof.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 14:04 (twenty years ago)

Sincere props to you if you can relax enough to do this, Jordan. I am too guilt-ridden about maximizing my own time to ever allow myself to "just relax at home"! I thought this was a common Jewish condition?

― Cristal Waters (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 14:13 (twenty years ago)

Turn the living room into a yoga space.

― Cristal Waters (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 14:13 (twenty years ago)

Haha, maybe that is the source of my vacation guilt, Adam.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 14:16 (twenty years ago)

Put on Hawaiian shirts, make girl drinks, form a two person conga line and limbo under a broomstick.

FOR A WHOLE WEEK

― Cristal Waters (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 14:18 (twenty years ago)

Wear a snorkel in the bathtub.

― Cristal Waters (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 14:18 (twenty years ago)

Cover a whole wall with "island sunset"-motif wallpaper and sit in front of it with shades on.

― Cristal Waters (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 14:19 (twenty years ago)

One of the best vacations I've ever had resulted from thwarted trip to NYC (I won't go in the details but it was incredibly frustrating). Sarah and I ended up having to go back to our empty snow-covered college town for spring break, but it was awesome. None of my suitemates were there, we took all the mattresses and put them on the living room floor, where we slept and camped out, watched some terrible movies on HBO and ate junk food. So relaxing.

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 14:20 (twenty years ago)

You're absolutely right Nick, I'm going to build a fucking FORT in our living room!

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 14:26 (twenty years ago)

I think Adam's suggestions are just as good as "fort" though.

― Allyzay knows a little German (allyzay), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 15:37 (twenty years ago)

i am the master of the non travelling vacation.

― bingo (Chris V), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 15:39 (twenty years ago)

I'd love to experience a fucking fort. Mmm, fucking while safe from medieval attack!

― Markelby (Mark C), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 15:41 (twenty years ago)

WITH A CROSSBOW STAPPED TO YOUR ASSCHEEKS.

― bingo (Chris V), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 15:43 (twenty years ago)

Adam is Dr. Jacoby.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 15:44 (twenty years ago)

I recommend building two forts (his and hers). In between them will be a desolate no-mans land filled with snacks and despair.

― laurence kansas (lawrence kansas), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 15:49 (twenty years ago)

I thought this was a common Jewish condition?

Maybe I am Jewish, then, and don't just look it?

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 16:52 (twenty years ago)

Actually, you kinda do look it, Jaymc.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 16:53 (twenty years ago)

I could never do this. Vacations are supposed to be a little hectic and tiring so that when you come back from your trip, work actually feels like a nice relaxing break. For me a vacation is just as much a break from the house cleaning, cooking and all of that as it is a break from work.

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 17:04 (twenty years ago)

That's what I mean, Jordan. Maybe somewhere lurking under the superficial Jewish appearance is an actual Jewish identity.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 17:05 (twenty years ago)

Ah, I see. Yes, maybe it's time for some genealogy...OF YOUR SOUL.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 17:12 (twenty years ago)

A classic vacation requires good things to happen that leave you feeling happy and contented. They can happen anywhere. But I find it easier to pull off away from home.

― Aimless (Aimless), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 17:21 (twenty years ago)

I recommend building two forts (his and hers). In between them will be a desolate no-mans land filled with snacks and despair.

Fill the desolate no-mans-land with cream cakes and gateaus - then you can have messy-but-fun-and-tasty sex on top of them all!

― Forest Kinky (ForestPines), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 17:37 (twenty years ago)

Watch out for booby traps.

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 17:38 (twenty years ago)

Not necessarily! ~~If you have a partner that you like spending time with,~~ it's perfectly feasible to spend a week indoors just watching DVDs, eating, talking ~~and shagging~~.

― alex in montreal (alex in montreal), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 18:32 (twenty years ago)

If you have a partner that you like spending time with

I like the implication of the alternative. "I can't wait to hate spending time with you on vacation, dear!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 18:37 (twenty years ago)

dude I've done that so many times.

― Allyzay knows a little German (allyzay), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 18:38 (twenty years ago)

i just spent a week off at home. it was rubbish, though i did a lot of thinking and have decided to change my career

― terry lennox. (gareth), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 21:20 (twenty years ago)

You have a career?

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 21:25 (twenty years ago)

If I spent a week at my house, I'd spend the entire time thinking, "Gee, I could be at work right now earing a paycheck."

I enjoy travelling and I can't travel when I'm working, so why would I waste the small amount of time I do have reserved for gallavanting sitting on my ass at the house?

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 21:27 (twenty years ago)

"Gee, I could be at work right now earing a paycheck."

Presumably you have paid vacations, though, right?

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 21:30 (twenty years ago)

why would I waste the small amount of time I do have reserved for gallavanting sitting on my ass at the house?

Especially in Little Rock!

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 21:33 (twenty years ago)

Having paid vacations essentially means that you're paying to sit at home and do nothing. Think about it. If you didn't take that week off, you would have an extra week of pay given to you when you leave your job and in many cases you could probably live off of one week's pay for more than a week. So sitting at home for a week and deciding to change your career probably doesn't make as much sense as quitting your job, getting your vacation pay and living off of that for several weeks while you plan your new career.

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 21:35 (twenty years ago)

Well unless you had no plans to change your career prior to your vacation, that is.

― Allyzay knows a little German (allyzay), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 21:39 (twenty years ago)

True. I was working from the assumption that everyone wants to change their career all of the time.

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 21:42 (twenty years ago)

No, we just want to change your career.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 21:44 (twenty years ago)

What do you suggest?

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 21:55 (twenty years ago)

Philanthropy for all your lovely phantom friends here on ILX.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 21:56 (twenty years ago)

Alright, 10 minutes paid vacation for everyone. Enjoy!

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 21:57 (twenty years ago)

Woohoo! I'm off!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 22:01 (twenty years ago)

Walter OTM. I think.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 22:36 (twenty years ago)

If you didn't take that week off, you would have an extra week of pay given to you when you leave your job

That only applies if you leave your job sometime that holiday-year though.

(or sometime within the period you're allowed to roll that holiday over for, assuming you're allowed to do that. Which I'm not.)

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Thursday, 29 September 2005 06:41 (twenty years ago)

xpost: "earing a paycheck."

This sounds interesting. How exactly is it done? Maybe that will be the next holiday fun activity. Barrels of laughs.

― salexander (salexander), Thursday, 29 September 2005 06:59 (twenty years ago)

Well you should go somewhere, at least once.

and that place should be milwaukee...

and barring that HOUSE ON THE ROCK!

― Camtron (Cameron), Thursday, 29 September 2005 07:36 (twenty years ago)

For the record, I have to use two weeks of vacation a year or else, I lose it. However, once I've used up ten days of Paid Time Off, any more days accrued can be refunded once the year is over. And the more I work, the more PTO I earn. So finacially, it makes more sense for me to keep working once I've used up the initial two weeks.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Thursday, 29 September 2005 15:49 (twenty years ago)

I had three days off work and I didn't really do anything except go shopping and play a gig. And come back to work just relaxed enough to get sick.

I've heard this happens - you work and work and work and your immune system just goes into high gear. And the moment you take some time off and relax, your immune system just freaks out and goes offline and you get ill.

So now I'm back at work with a sore throat and wondering when I next can take some time off.

― The Brocade Fire (kate), Thursday, 29 September 2005 15:54 (twenty years ago)

God, after today I am SO desperate for some time off work. I don't care if I don't even leave my bed, let alone the house.

OTOH, I would quite like to go to Rome.

Rome/home. Hm.

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 29 September 2005 15:55 (twenty years ago)

All roads lead to home.

― The Brocade Fire (kate), Thursday, 29 September 2005 15:56 (twenty years ago)

Dud. Go somewhere far away, as far as you can.

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 29 September 2005 16:08 (twenty years ago)

Basically a dud, especially if you're a working stiff (Pleasant Plains OTM), but it seems like you already travel a lot Jordan, so that changes things a little bit.

― k/l (Ken L), Thursday, 29 September 2005 16:19 (twenty years ago)

Well you should go somewhere, at least once.
and that place should be milwaukee...

and barring that HOUSE ON THE ROCK!

I think one trip per lifetime to the House on the Rock is enough for me, as completely awesome as it is.

I should go to Milwaukee tonight to see the Stooges, but I don't think it'll happen (do you think you might go?).

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 29 September 2005 17:10 (twenty years ago)

Anyway so far I haven't gotten any thing constructive accomplished today, but I slept in, made a frittata, and now we're watching Hell of the Living Dead. It'll be time for second breakfast soon.

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 29 September 2005 17:12 (twenty years ago)

Maybe, anything is possible in the city of beer.

― Camtron (Cameron), Thursday, 29 September 2005 20:49 (twenty years ago)

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