Vacation

Earlier today I was congratulating myself on not bringing my laptop down to the hotel pool area (the entire hotel has internet access, for a small fee of course). Apparently, I spoke too soon.

I’m pondering the nature of vacation. Yes, there are the pretty views, the architecture, sounds, smells, and sights that tantalize our senses. But today, it seems to be more about being unable to do our routine, daily tasks; drinking and eating more and differently than we might usually allow ourselves (two words – merlot and amaretto); chairs that force us to recline; and mostly, imposed nothingness. (I should also note that having hubby entertain the child frequently is a welcome bonus).

Mostly, it seems that vacation is a planned-in-advance time to relax and renew. As my son was joking, today our agenda was to eat a snack, swim, relax, eat some more, play, and eat. But I have to ask myself – why did we have to fly 600 miles, over the course of several hours plus a couple days of packing and planning, to be able to do this?

Now, don’t get me wrong…I’m not regretful – I’m actually very grateful, and we intend to do lots of sightseeing and adventuring that we don’t have locally. I know from past experience that there is something special about vacations that imprint memories into our lives and bring us closer as a family. And we really needed that in our lives right now.

So, no, I’m not suggesting that we shouldn’t have come; rather, that I would like more of this in daily life. The thought crossed my mind that perhaps we should institute “family vacation day” each week – we could go to a local attraction for the day, or even go to our health club and sit by their pool; eat their (actually rather reasonably priced) poolside food; etc.

Unfortunately, I suspect it would go by the wayside in the same manner that family cleaning day and make-dinner-as-a-family night (which lasted a record low of 2 nonconsecutive weeks) did. Somehow, the tasks of daily life always intrude. Perhaps that is a clue as to why we go 600 miles.

I also can’t help but notice that even on vacation we fall into familiar – albeit it annual rather than daily – habits. For example, my wanting to save a buck here and there by cutting corners (while still enjoying an luxurious vacation), my husband getting exasperated at my inconsistent and sometimes (in his mind) immoral shortcuts; my desire to go out and do things when the boys would rather sit and do nothing; etc. On some level, routine is clearly comforting and craved. Perhaps, like going into the hot sun when our own will be hot soon enough, getting away from our lives helps us value it more. Maybe, as I often do, I will get home and be a bit happy to see my regular routine.

Somehow though a part of me always feels that there must be something wrong with me that I can’t just sit back and enjoy this. Maybe I should go work on that now.

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