Many Americans simply don't think vacations are worth the time, expense & effort
Jul 16th, 2007, 10:16 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 12,076
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Many Americans simply don't think vacations are worth the time, expense & effort
Stumbled upon this article today at a news-oriented discussion site:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...z/4967411.html
FWIW, the vast majority of the discussion participants (170 comments so far) agreed with the general sentiment.
Any thoughts?
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...z/4967411.html
FWIW, the vast majority of the discussion participants (170 comments so far) agreed with the general sentiment.
Any thoughts?
Jul 16th, 2007, 10:24 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,759
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Beyond mild depression? I mourn the lost tradition of the family vacation. Both this article and the responses were very "first person, singular". I felt like contacting the offspring of the sad lady who said she'd taken her kids on holiday ONCE for a week and found it not worthwhile. I felt like offering them and THEIR kids a free week in any Maine "camp".
Jul 16th, 2007, 10:24 AM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Maybe they do.
Whatever makes one happiest the best for them.
Yes as a peripathetic peregrinator i'd say they don't know what they miss but perhaps i don't know what i miss by not going to some lakeside cottage for some weeks of doing nothing.
Or do you mean vacation or traveling - everyone of course needs a vacation but not necessarily traveling.
Whatever makes one happiest the best for them.
Yes as a peripathetic peregrinator i'd say they don't know what they miss but perhaps i don't know what i miss by not going to some lakeside cottage for some weeks of doing nothing.
Or do you mean vacation or traveling - everyone of course needs a vacation but not necessarily traveling.
Jul 16th, 2007, 10:34 AM
#5
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,875
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PalenQ,
I actually agree. We just returned from 16 days or so in Europe with our 10 and 13 year old. I am very glad we went, very thrilled to have what I think is the privelege of going and experiencing it.
On the same hand, I am thrilled our next mini vacation in coming up this week for just dh and I for a long weekend in the Bahamas doing nothing but sitting poolside and maybe snorkling... different strokes for different folks.
I actually agree. We just returned from 16 days or so in Europe with our 10 and 13 year old. I am very glad we went, very thrilled to have what I think is the privelege of going and experiencing it.
On the same hand, I am thrilled our next mini vacation in coming up this week for just dh and I for a long weekend in the Bahamas doing nothing but sitting poolside and maybe snorkling... different strokes for different folks.
Jul 16th, 2007, 10:35 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I thought the father of young children was the sadder person quoted - 40 days accumulated and he takes the odd afternoon off to play golf with his father whilst the weekends are for the kids? How about he takes the odd day off to be with them?
I agree that vacation is different to travelling. I have friends who never go away, enjoying their free days at home with their kids and their horses. But they live in a great place. When my kids were young we tended not to go away - but took time off to be with them and do things with them, as well as them going to camp for a week so we could have some quality time alone.
Now I need a change of scenery occasionally. But the article implies that these people never take the vacation dus to them, whether theytravel or stay at home.
I agree that vacation is different to travelling. I have friends who never go away, enjoying their free days at home with their kids and their horses. But they live in a great place. When my kids were young we tended not to go away - but took time off to be with them and do things with them, as well as them going to camp for a week so we could have some quality time alone.
Now I need a change of scenery occasionally. But the article implies that these people never take the vacation dus to them, whether theytravel or stay at home.
Jul 16th, 2007, 10:58 AM
#7
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,188
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A lakeside cottage with two small children and having to prepare all the meals sounds very un-vacation-like. That would be my last choice (well, a few other options might be further down the list).
Nevertheless, the same woman, the antique quilt owner who doesn't fancy the thought of two weeks in London, just sounds as if she is wired to enjoy staying at home, which is a perfectly valid choice. If for some reason she ended up going to London, she would probably be complaining about jetlag, the grime, the crowds, the weather, etc.
Nevertheless, the same woman, the antique quilt owner who doesn't fancy the thought of two weeks in London, just sounds as if she is wired to enjoy staying at home, which is a perfectly valid choice. If for some reason she ended up going to London, she would probably be complaining about jetlag, the grime, the crowds, the weather, etc.
Jul 16th, 2007, 11:14 AM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,854
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't think this article is as sad as some people think. Lots of women just end up doing a lot of work on "vacation" when that consists of going someplace and just staying there -- like a cottage. So it isn't that relaxing. Also, the last guy didn't sound so bad to me as he was doing a lot with his kids and not working long hours or something. Why is that so sad. I know lots of fathers who don't do any of that stuff and don't spend time with their kids.
Some people just find vacation or traveling to be a lot of work and not fun. I actually understand that sometimes, and sometimes think I'd rather just take a week and stay at home doing nothing or the things I don't have time to do regularly (I don't mean work at home stuff, but museums, shows, etc.). Traveling is a lot of work, and I am not "relaxed" after it at all, although I like it for the variety and stimulation. I don't think I would want to do it with kids, either -- and a lot of them don't care.
I have friends who send their kids to sleep-away camps of various kinds for several weeks in the summer, so the kids do get a vacation. Lots of kids don't want to traipse around looking at museums, etc.
I thought that article was poorly written, or meant to be biased (as they usually are) by some of the quotes. Such as the citation about people who said their boss didn't "encourage" them to take a vacation. Well, my boss doesn't either, but that doesn't mean I'm not allowed to take one or he complains if I do. But he certainly doesn't go around individually to people to "encourage" them to take a vacation, that's just silly to me. People are adults and can do what they want. I know some people who don't take vacation and hoard it and it's not always because they don't want to take it but because they want the money instead. In a lot of companies, that is accrued to you, of course (it's not like sick leave, where if you don't use it, it's lost), so if you quit or leave the company, they must pay you that money on those days. In fact, that's why many companies, and the federal govt., have a limit on the number of days you can "bank". It's because they don't want that financial liability on the books and because when you leave, they must pay you at your current salary rather than the salary when they were earned.
Some people just find vacation or traveling to be a lot of work and not fun. I actually understand that sometimes, and sometimes think I'd rather just take a week and stay at home doing nothing or the things I don't have time to do regularly (I don't mean work at home stuff, but museums, shows, etc.). Traveling is a lot of work, and I am not "relaxed" after it at all, although I like it for the variety and stimulation. I don't think I would want to do it with kids, either -- and a lot of them don't care.
I have friends who send their kids to sleep-away camps of various kinds for several weeks in the summer, so the kids do get a vacation. Lots of kids don't want to traipse around looking at museums, etc.
I thought that article was poorly written, or meant to be biased (as they usually are) by some of the quotes. Such as the citation about people who said their boss didn't "encourage" them to take a vacation. Well, my boss doesn't either, but that doesn't mean I'm not allowed to take one or he complains if I do. But he certainly doesn't go around individually to people to "encourage" them to take a vacation, that's just silly to me. People are adults and can do what they want. I know some people who don't take vacation and hoard it and it's not always because they don't want to take it but because they want the money instead. In a lot of companies, that is accrued to you, of course (it's not like sick leave, where if you don't use it, it's lost), so if you quit or leave the company, they must pay you that money on those days. In fact, that's why many companies, and the federal govt., have a limit on the number of days you can "bank". It's because they don't want that financial liability on the books and because when you leave, they must pay you at your current salary rather than the salary when they were earned.
Jul 16th, 2007, 11:53 AM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,920
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, it is very easy to find you've turned a holiday into damned hard work, as we can see from some of the itineraries people have posted here.
And people can raise expectations a bit high, and end up disappointed.
And all the tensions in relationships can come out when there's no routine suppressing them.
And sometimes, the fates just conspire against you.
We had a saying in our family, from a time when we went down to Southend one Bank Holiday, and we went for a walk on the pier (the longest in the country). The tide was out, and there was nothing to see but mudflats. It came on to rain, and on we plodded. A solitary woman, all wrapped up in her plastic packamac came towards us and as she passed she said, in a broad Northern accent "Luvly bloody 'oliday". That kept us going for years, every time something went wrong.
And people can raise expectations a bit high, and end up disappointed.
And all the tensions in relationships can come out when there's no routine suppressing them.
And sometimes, the fates just conspire against you.
We had a saying in our family, from a time when we went down to Southend one Bank Holiday, and we went for a walk on the pier (the longest in the country). The tide was out, and there was nothing to see but mudflats. It came on to rain, and on we plodded. A solitary woman, all wrapped up in her plastic packamac came towards us and as she passed she said, in a broad Northern accent "Luvly bloody 'oliday". That kept us going for years, every time something went wrong.
Jul 16th, 2007, 12:04 PM
#11
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I always wonder if people who don;t take holidays are ever going to "blow" or come down with medical problems. For that one lady, her husband had cancer and she had a heart attack.
Holidays ARE family time, it's a time to build those memories that kids will remember when they grow up...how may people here still talk about childhood trips? While spending more time with your kids at home is a fine and highly commendable act, is not taking them (or yourself) away from the everyday dross somehow giving up an opportunity to see , experience and understand others/other places? And it doesn;t have ot be Europe...could just be going to state capital, or a national park,etc..
And for people who bring PCs/cellphones/Blackberries on holidays...my theory is that there are very few people who are so important that they cannot take a week away from the office, that there is no one back home who can manage/keep things flowing at the office. Yes, I know I will be told I'm wrong, but from experience as soon as you think about work on holidays, it kills the whole holiday feeling.
Holidays ARE family time, it's a time to build those memories that kids will remember when they grow up...how may people here still talk about childhood trips? While spending more time with your kids at home is a fine and highly commendable act, is not taking them (or yourself) away from the everyday dross somehow giving up an opportunity to see , experience and understand others/other places? And it doesn;t have ot be Europe...could just be going to state capital, or a national park,etc..
And for people who bring PCs/cellphones/Blackberries on holidays...my theory is that there are very few people who are so important that they cannot take a week away from the office, that there is no one back home who can manage/keep things flowing at the office. Yes, I know I will be told I'm wrong, but from experience as soon as you think about work on holidays, it kills the whole holiday feeling.
Jul 16th, 2007, 12:15 PM
#12
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 425
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just on Friday, I got into a discussion with my coworker about vacations. I love to travel and will go somewhere every chance I get. He, on the other hand, tells me "I really want to take a vacation, but it's just too much hassle. You have to deal with flight delays, lost luggage, standing in lines at security, etc. It's not worth it! Plus, I want to travel tomorrow and there's no way you can get a flight this late without paying a fortune." In less than a minute, I had pulled up quite a few flights to where he wanted to go that were actually quite reasonable. Then he had some other sort of excuse.
I tried to understand how someone would dwell on the minor inconveniences of travel, just to avoid an otherwise wonderful trip, but I just don't get it. That's okay though - if we could get all those grumpy, negative-minded people to stop flying, maybe it would be easier for the rest of us who enjoy travel!
I tried to understand how someone would dwell on the minor inconveniences of travel, just to avoid an otherwise wonderful trip, but I just don't get it. That's okay though - if we could get all those grumpy, negative-minded people to stop flying, maybe it would be easier for the rest of us who enjoy travel!
Jul 16th, 2007, 01:06 PM
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 12,076
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A lot of people just don't like to leave their comfort zones. And let's face it, a vacation trip doesn't just happen by itself...you have to really <i>want</i> to make it happen. From deciding where you want to go to scheduling to booking flights and accommodations to researching destinations and arranging for rental cars or airport transfers...and on and on...you do have to MAKE it happen.
Not everyone wants to do that. And that's OK by me; the fewer sad-faced, worn-out <i>touristas</i> jamming up the lines, the better!
Not everyone wants to do that. And that's OK by me; the fewer sad-faced, worn-out <i>touristas</i> jamming up the lines, the better!
Jul 16th, 2007, 01:08 PM
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
IMHO, I think there are many people who cannot or will not travel because it makes them "anxious". It gives them stress to think about planning and taking the actual trip. I don't think it's bad---it's just a personality quirk!! I am so grateful I am married to a person who loves to travel as much as I do.
Jul 16th, 2007, 01:15 PM
#16
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,142
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A lot of people also don't have the curiousity of seeing a new place. Some people also cannot afford it, even traveling within your own country can be expensive and sadly many people are workaholics!
Jul 16th, 2007, 01:19 PM
#17
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I dont know.....
I really like to travel.
But, I also REALLY like being home. I love my house. I love being home, I love making breakfast on the weekends and sitting on my porch with a cup of coffee. ....
I have a long daily commute and work long hours, so the idea of taking a vacation at home actually sounds very, very appealing.
I really like to travel.
But, I also REALLY like being home. I love my house. I love being home, I love making breakfast on the weekends and sitting on my porch with a cup of coffee. ....
I have a long daily commute and work long hours, so the idea of taking a vacation at home actually sounds very, very appealing.
Jul 16th, 2007, 01:37 PM
#18
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In our family, there was one family vacation a year and one grown-up vacation per year.They were truely glorious times. My children are adults now with their own families.We still take a family trip per year, usually to a national park.These are true vacations.And,my children and grandchildren love to travel on their own,as well.
Jul 16th, 2007, 01:43 PM
#19
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have friends like this, who have the time and the resources, but always come up with excuses not to travel, most of their travel revolves around a rare weekend trip away or a cruise that someone else planned. They have been talking about going to Europe for 4 years, we've been 5 times since they started talking about it. It's really hard for me to understand. Does anybody else get fustrated with friends like this?
Jul 16th, 2007, 01:54 PM
#20
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 10,190
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When I worked retail, I got 2 weeks vacation each year. I had to use it in 1 week increments (no 1 day here, 1 day there) and if I didn't use it by the end of the year, I lost it.
I learned not to give it up, but I had no money to go anywhere, so I learned how to "vacation" at home. I would stalk out the library for a stackful of books, hit up friends for videos that I hadn't seen, and kick back on the couch and veg. Several days, I'd take the dog out on a hike; maybe have dinner with some friends.
I think this story is misleading because there's a difference between a "vacation" and "traveling". You don't have to leave home for a vacation. You do have to leave home to travel.
To me, the best thing about vacation is that one-day into it, I have forgotten I have a job, have responsibilities, have family issues, etc. It's just time to enjoy life.
I learned not to give it up, but I had no money to go anywhere, so I learned how to "vacation" at home. I would stalk out the library for a stackful of books, hit up friends for videos that I hadn't seen, and kick back on the couch and veg. Several days, I'd take the dog out on a hike; maybe have dinner with some friends.
I think this story is misleading because there's a difference between a "vacation" and "traveling". You don't have to leave home for a vacation. You do have to leave home to travel.
To me, the best thing about vacation is that one-day into it, I have forgotten I have a job, have responsibilities, have family issues, etc. It's just time to enjoy life.
