JBHapgood

starrsville, that's exactly the thought that crossed my mind when I was stuck in traffic: "Would I rather be back in my cubicle than here?"

JBHapgood

dawnnoelm, my "non-vacation" wasn't really relaxing. If I were interested in relaxing, I could always take a bus to any of the local beaches. People do, after all, visit Southern California for the beaches. It would be just like Hawaii or the Caribbean, but much cheaper and no airport hassles. Yes, the water is very slightly colder and the breeze brings the bracing scent of ozone and nitrogen oxides mingled with particulate soot rather than plumeria perfume, but the price doesn't include the right to complain.

(By the way, I did spend some time walking along the strand in Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Parking is the major hassle there, even on weekdays in October, so taking the bus would probably be a very good idea. The ever-vigilant, highly professional parking enforcement officers probably have no difficulty passing out their full quota of tickets that keep the coffers full.)

The difficulty I have with staying home is that it's so easy to turn on the computer, the TV, or the iPod and spend half a day or more with that rather than pushing myself out the door and onto the freeway. That's largely what has kept me from taking mini-vacations exploring Los Angeles on weekends during the lengthy intervals between "real vacations." There really is plenty to see, do, and explore, but the traffic really makes inertia seem appealing.

You probably have the right idea of staying in a local hotel. I always considered that an unnecessary extravagance when it's possible to make a day trip from home, but having tried the day trips I now understand that day-tripping is false economy. I'll try that on my next non-vacation.

dncdave

It can be a vacation if you make it one. Try and stay in a hotel for part of the time. DO NOT ANSWER YOUR PHONE including cell phone. Pretend you are far away and don't be in contact with anyone. Don't let anyone from work call to ask where a file is or anything else.

Send post cards to people you like. Send people a post card of an attraction close to their house and you can even write, "Having a great time. Miss you and wish you were here."

If you don't go to plays very often, do that at night instead of watching television. Go to a show at the Music Center and go for a drink at one of the downtown bars after the show. (I used to go for a drink after shows in NY as a tourist, but rarely do it in LA, where I also live.)

It can be a vacation if you make it one.

Have fun. Post a trip report.

AJPeabody

We've done the "vacation at home" for our last vacation, and it worked fine. It was not our choice, but business and family crises made it impossible to plan anything.

Instead, we toted up the cost of airfare and hotels that we would have done and came up with a daily budget for the 10 days of i hotel day plus 1/10 the airfares. We then made sure to spend the budget, which allowed eating at fancy restaurants, etc. Turned off the cellphone, ignored the email account, told the offices we weren't available, and we had a ball.


Do it like this and it will be a vacation for sure.