subject: The Excitement Of Going On Vacation [print this page] While vacationing used to be considered something that most families looked forward to without hesitation, the same can no longer be said.
There is speculation as well as increasing doubts stemming from families all over the United States as to whether or not the United States economy will recover to the point that it used to be, thus allowing people to resume the lives that they were once accustomed to leading. I, for one, would love to see gas prices go back down to under $2 per gallon! Just to think- only a few years ago, we were in the midst of an economy where hardly anyone worried whether or not they would have enough money to fill up their cars. Today, we not only worry about how much money we have to fill up our cars, but we now have to debate whether or not to use what money we do have left to either fill up our vehicles or go grocery shopping!
Instead of the traditional vacations in which families would pile into their vehicles and make a cross country road trip filled with bonding, song-singing and routine pit stops; today, more families are opting for the ever-increasingly popular 'staycations'. Perhaps the United States is in the middle of witnessing something terrific. Perhaps the recent economic woes that have befallen us have done so for a reason. Maybe this is our wake up call that we need to be more focused on our environment as well as take a more active interest in the very communities that we live in. For instance, how many times have you drove past a restaurant or store that is located near your home without ever going inside? Staycations give families a great opportunity to bond with one another as well as support their local communities/vendors.
Perhaps what needs to happen is that we need to re-define what a 'vacation' really is. Initially, going on a vacation means that you are leaving your work behind to enjoy some time to relax. However, over the past years, this word has become thwarted to the point where it started to mean (and still does) when someone takes their family and leaves the state that they live in so that they can enjoy life somewhere else. You don't have to fly to another country or even travel out of state in order to enjoy a break away from the monotony of work life. Of course, if you have the funds and the time to do so, then by all means go ahead. But if you and your family are experiencing a tighter budget, realize that it is ok to stay home. It's ok to park your car and go for a bike ride or have a picnic in your backyard or even invite the neighbors over for a cookout, party or dinner. Yes, it is possible to have just as much fun (if not more) when you stay home and give yourself a break.
