Summer vacation: did you take one? If not, why not? If so, was it

[babylonsister]

worth it? Tell me all about it. And FWIW, gas is an astonishing $3.64 here in TX, and for this we are grateful because it's not over $4. Weird, huh.

[hobbit709]

1. Vacation, what is a vacation?

we haven't had the money to even go somewhere even for a weekend in 5 years.

[ancient_nomad]

10. Same here!

And, it sucks!

[jojo54]

2. Nope

You're right. It wasn't worth it.

And gas here in south Jersey is down to $3.65 or so, but the paychecks remain the same.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. No vacation

We hardly ever do anymore.

We did a lot of traveling a few years back. All over the world. Then we realized we enjoyed coming home more than we enjoying being elsewhere. Not the people or the places ...... but the damned process.

We have come to despise airplanes, airports, customs agents, US Immigration officers, and TSA goons patting us down and sniffing our crotches.

It just ain't worth it ......... yanno?

[babylonsister]

5. Not really. I am of the opinion that I will put up with

what I'm dealt because I wind up in a different place, as much as I also love coming home.
And FTR, my husband works for an airline, so we usually fly for free, which assuredly helps my mental health.

[KharmaTrain]

4. We Stayed Close To Home

Took a boat cruise up the Chicago River...it's been a beautiful summer. BTW...Gas here is 3.95 a gallon...higher in the city.

Usually we are fortunate to be able to take a couple vacations a year (making up for the years I worked 24/7/365 and could afford anything), we went to New Orleans in March and the travel was such a hassle (had American Airlines screw up on me again) then came the big run-up in fuel costs, extra charges for everything (IMHO, they should pay US for putting up with their crappy service) and dealing with the TSA monsters...I'm looking at sitting out going anywhere by air for a while...I'm expecting some crisis in the months ahead and want to stay far away from any airport. If we go, it'll be by car or train.

Ironically, we were in downtown Chicago last week and the place was hoppin'...restaurants were crowded, musuems and parks very busy and lots of visitors (my wife bets most spoke a language other than English).

Sometimes the best vacations are the simplest ones...a day in the country or with good friends. Here, we have two baseball teams in first place...life is good.

Cheers...

[whistle]

6. No, safer and more secure at home plus could not afford a vacation

[tammywammy]

7. I visted my grandfather and extended family over 4th of July

Drive from DFW to SE Texas. It was a great weekend, good food and very relaxing.

[Muttocracy]

8. Tagged along with some other family members on their vacation

So I paid for the gas to get to their house, not much after that. No other way I could have done it. Given some family stress, it wasn't vacation enough. I'm looking forward to taking a few days off later this month to do housework and errands and relax a little before summer is all gone.

I haven't had a real "vacation" in 8 years (dealing with my difficult family once or twice a year doesn't really count!)

[seabeyond]

9. we went to durango cause everyone in texas has raved. it was hot, dry, busy.

so we went another forty miles to silverton and it sat in the mountains. cool. rained. had to buy jackets. and a small town we could walk and fell in love. we loved it and yes it was worth it.

we didnt go last year cause i am just cheap and we had a huge family gather in este park, so didnt need another vacation. after a year we needed this vacation. or husband did. i am so glad we were flexible enough to tay durango wasnt what we wanted, changed our reservations to try another place

[babylonsister]

13. Hey, you! You

were the DUer that had to fly somewhere warm to enjoy a vacation with your in-laws, didn't want to, but had a good time, I'm thinking? Maybe in retrospect, not so much?

Ha! :hi:

[seabeyond]

15. ya.... i do much better somewhere cool and just my immediate family

that was the trip that i refused to do the things i dont like.... and it did end up being fun. akumal, outside of cancun

:hi:

[myrna minx]

11. What is this "Vay-kay-shon" you speak of?

Sounds exotic. :rofl: The last one I had was in the late 1990's, and it'll be at least 3 more years before I have another, so I'll live vicariously through the GoGo's.

[Caria]

12. Nope

Had hopes/plans but had to cancel. Couldn't afford it.

[TwilightGardener]

14. Went camping in the Nebraska Sandhills, and kayaking down the Niobrara River.

Fished at a lake--nobody caught anything except me (a few little bluegills). Also hiked around the Badlands in SD (found some fossils! but left them--park rules) and stopped in at Wall Drug for dinner. Only a few days, but it was nice, and fairly cheap. Bad, wicked thunderstorms every night though--thought our camper was going to get blown over.

[Subdivisions]

16. Actually, I did. As it happened, I had gone to visit my mom and dad

who live just 12 miles away. It was June and I had no idea they were planning to go on vacation and when Mom said they were leaving for Virginia/North Carolina the following week, I asked Mom if I could join them. My nephew who was going to go bowed out because he was starting a new job so Mom and Dad said I could go along with them. And the kicker was that if I agreed to drive, they would pay all my expenses for the trip. Dad desperately was not looking forward to 3000 miles of driving. So it was all set. So, off Mom, Dad, and my niece Ally went.

Our first stop was to see my Dad's brother and wife in Augusta, GA. They have a nice spread there and Uncle Curtis restores Model As and Model Ts, which was interesting. Aunt Linda was the only one that took me up on accompanying me on a walk through the forest trails around their propery. We took the dog and spent some quality time exploring the woods together. I hadn't seen them since I was 10 years old and their youngest daughter had taken a shine to me on a family camping outing. She's all grown up and married with children now.

I got to see my Grandmother in Washington, NC, for the first time in several years. It was really good to see her because she's 80 and starting to become senile. Luckily she was lucid most of my visit and knew it was me there. We had a miniature family reunion where I got to see some of the extended family I haven't seen in ages.

After that, it was off to Hampton Roads, VA, where another aunt lives in Suffolk. Got to go out on the Chesapeake Bay for two days of fishing in the boat with just me and my Dad and Randy, my aunt's husband, which was nice - and fun! While there, I had the opportunity to go pier fishing and strolling along the boardwalk at Virginia Beach. I also had a nice visit with an old friend in Newport News for an evening.

The best part was in North Carolina on our way back to Texas. We stopped for a couple days in Mooresville and I got to see my Aunt Alma and Uncle Robert who I had not seen in 16 years. Aunt Alma was always my favorite and babysitted us frequently when I was young. Two weeks ago, I sent Mom and Dad off back to North Carolina to attend my Aunt's funeral. She had been on dialysis and a few weeks after our visit, she died.

[Muttocracy]

25. Wow, sounds like that was a fun and meaningful trip. nt

[FredStembottom]

48. An off-topic question, T-Ex:

Your uncle who restores Model A's and T's...... can I ask what his age is?

Here's why: I am the world's biggest antique and collector auto fan in the world. As I go around to the little classic car shows around my state, I am seeing fewer and fewer Model A's - and especially T's.
I have begun to wonder, now that the generations who had actual memories of the very early cars are all passing away as we speak, if anyone younger will continue to restore and enjoy the really old cars.

Just an informal "survey" I have been taking at the shows......*

:hi:


*and unfortunately, right now, the results are leaning hard towards no-one-is-interested-in-that-anymore!

[Subdivisions]

49. I can see where you would be concerned and it is a very interesting

question and predicament. Uncle Curt is 60. However, I believe he has fostered an interest in restoring classic cars in his son who is 40 or so and is currently helping restore a Model A. Uncle Curt does participate regularly in the culture and said that he is a member of a classic auto club (I think he said the largest in the country or southwest, hard to remember all the details now). Shortly after our vist I believe he and his son were travelling to a convention/show in Minneapolis (?).

It's unfortunate that your informal survey is turning up little interest from the younger crowd. I have seen the interest and excitement that is generated when you guys are rolling down the road and roll into your shows. Hopefully there are those youngsters along the way that will take auto restoration up as a hobby and keep it alive and well.

[FredStembottom]

60. That's good news!

The son who is 40 but working on an "A" is good news.

People my age (50) and younger still do classic cars - but it seems that the strong tendency is for people to have no interest in cars that came from before they were born.

Guess I'll have to start my own Jay Leno - type collection!

As if!

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Went to Michigan - the UP

It was beautiful. Just me and my kid and the dog. We had a great time and I want to go back.

[GoesTo11]

18. I took two trips and caught up with old friends

Definitely worthwhile. The older you get, the more you realize how valuable those friends are. Kept the trips as cheap as possible but they cost some (didn't do too bad with hotwire, though). I had more flexibility with work time and was eager to make up for lost time.

[madrchsod]

19. permanent vaction...no job.. no money

all the time in the world...

[Iggo]

20. My boss won't authorize me to take a week.

Not because he's mean. It's because I do my job and cover two others. But If I'm out, no one covers me.

Best I can do is take a Friday and the following Monday off.

It's okay for now. I eat a lot of free dinners at nice restaurants and I'm building some good will in tough economic times.

Like I posted in another thread, though, I sure would like to visit the fabled lands east of the Rockies sometime...lol.

[seabeyond]

21. fabled lands east of the Rockies

i havent heard of that. we are alwaysw interested in places we can drive. where is that.

[Iggo]

24. I hear stories...rumors, really...

...of endless grasslands, great lakes, a mountain with four faces, swamplands where there be dinosaurs, the legendary City of Gotham (a city that never sleeps, if the stories are to be believed!), and a great ocean called Atlantica!

Wonders!

[LibDemAlways]

22. Yes, and it was great. Spouse works in another city and

logs copious frequent flier miles. After two and a half years of the twice weekly airline commute, he had enough miles to take us (himself, me, and 15-year-old daughter) all the way to London, where we also cashed in hotel points for 4 free nights, and then spent a couple more in a charming B and B a block from Buckingham Palace.

The dollar is so weak against the pound right now that we couldn't have done it any other way. However, we visited several museums (including the wonderful British Museum) - all free - rode the tube and buses, and walked our butts off.

It was the best vacation ever, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to do it.

[babylonsister]

26. I'm so jealous! Good for you! I still haven't been there, for so many

lame reasons. I'm happy you had the best vacation ever!:thumbsup:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

23. No travel this summer, but

I'm going to a convention in Orlando in November and maybe, maybe to some place unusual next January. :-)

[elocs]

27. I didn't really take a vacation, but I did take the summer off.

I quit my job at the end of May and decided I would just kick back and enjoy my summer while I am still in good enough health to really enjoy it. I have another job that I will start on 25 August, so it has worked out nicely. Since I didn't really go anywhere I went from the end of May until 9 August when I next filled up my gas tank since I was driving to Chicago. I did an experiment with my Scion by driving only 60 mph on the Interstate (I was passed by everyone) and I got 40 mpg.

[babylonsister]

28. Good for you!

My sister quit her job, and I don't know if she has another or is hoping for one. :scared:

God will provide, according to her, and she's happy, healthy, and her life is perfect! :shrug:

[elocs]

29. One thing though, I wished I had known I would have another job at the end of the summer

when I quit my other one. I might have enjoyed it more, but it was awful nice just doing nothing.

[babylonsister]

30. She doesn't know either, and has a hellacious mortgage.

Divorced, going to Thailand for her 50th, and jobless. :shrug:

I can't even fathom this, but she's the sober one. Go figure. :)

[roody]

31. I treated my 88-year-old dad, my stepmom,

and two siblings to a night on Lake Michigan in Two Rivers, WI, then crossed the lake on the car ferry and spent the night in a B and B in Ludington, MI. Then we went on to a family reunion near Cadillac, MI. Michigan is beautiful. I highly recommend the Lighthouse Inn in Two Rivers, WI, for the lakeview.
I have "disposable" income because I don't have children.
My dad can afford to travel like this, but he won't because he doesn't spend money on pleasure. They always stay at people's houses. They plan their trips that way. Actually they are done travelling because of their age, but they used to travel a lot.

[Sisaruus]

32. I went to the Arctic Circle

I went to the Arctic Circle in Finland for a week to celebrate the solstice. But with last minute work assignments, I had to bring my laptop with me. A Finn I met on the train, who didn't have a pile of work with her, told me that her employer (the government) paid a 50 percent salary bonus during vacation weeks. So why do I live in the US?

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Tindalos]

40. Grovelbot needs money for his vacation.

Poor Grovelbot! He works so hard.

[Monk06]

34. You mean a paid vacation? Where you have a full time job and get two weeks paid by your employer

during the year?

What place or century could you be talking about?

What is this thing called vacation to which you refer?

[Tennessee Gal]

35. I took a staycation.

I stayed home.

My income is way down this year due to the Bush economy.

[rainbow4321]

36. A few weekend getaways

One to Tulsa over 4th of July weekend to be with family. Twice to Austin for 3 day getaway to see my daughter. I live in Dallas and it takes me a half a tank to get to either of those places so the gas was not an issue.

Speaking of gas, I've officially cut my weekly consumption in half by using mass trans to/from work. Should be able to decrease it more once my younger daughter starts school and the car stays in the high school parking lot for 8 hours each day (she will drop me off at the Dart station each morning) instead of her running errands/visiting friends, etc..while I am at work.

We're guestimating we'll be down to roughly 15 miles a day (to/from school and occassionally her going off campus for lunch)

[seabeyond]

37. i used like three tANKS all summer. still have over a half on the last one

dallas hiways are horrid. i was going thru there and made sure it was about three to not hit the "traffic". i always seem to hit that city at 5. lol lol, 3 didnt matter. still horrible. takes forever to get out of there.

[rainbow4321]

39. Ome more reason I've enjoyed doing mass trans

Haven't listened to a Dallas traffic report in 2 months!!

[AllieB]

38. We went to Paris using Frequent Flyer miles

otherwise, we couldn't have afforded to go. This was our first vacation in 3 years. DH gets less vacation time than I do so he had to sock it away by not taking any days off.

[babylonsister]

46. Nice! The euro vs. the dollar hurts too much for us. Maybe

some day I'll get to go back to Europe. Sounds grand!

[Tindalos]

41. Not yet.

I'm trying to get some time off work before summer ends. Not sure if it will happen or not. I might get a weekend if I'm lucky.

[bikebloke]

42. Took a go-nowhere holiday.

I've been doing that for a few years since I'm one the few around here that likes the summer swelter.

But in October, I'm going to Argentina. If I don't go now, it'll be out of reach later. I'm thinking of it as my last trip for completion. I'll then have six continents under my hooves. I'm dreading the indignities of the phony airport security, though.

[Squatch]

43. I am currently in the middle of our 1-month long vacation:

I'm writing this from beautiful Eagle Nest, New Mexico. Cost an arm and a leg to get out here, but it is well worth it.

[livetohike]

44. No summer vacation - we're retired and went away for the

month of March (camping in the FL panhandle). Lots of projects to do at home here while the weather is still good. We've had summer guests though :-).

[MilesColtrane]

45. Haven't had a vacation in eight years.

Last one consisted of driving my parents to a family reunion in Arkansas.

[scorpiogirl]

47. We had planned on going on a few camping trips, but....

my husband lost his job at the end of June and still hasn't found anything. So he's been home all summer, but there's no money to go anywhere. We may end up having to move to another area or state so I'm afraid to spend because we're now paying all our bills/rent out of savings, which won't last long as it is. It's not the summer I was planning on, but what can you do?

[SeattleGirl]

50. I am on an involuntary summer vacation, since I lost my job.

I won't be going anywhere for the foreseeable future. x(

[lostnotforgotten]

51. Never Taken A Vacation In My Adult Life

eom

[ncrainbowgrrl]

52. No, but I did get layed off... So it's been a "vacation"

Uggh

[Vinca]

53. Haven't had a vacation since 1993, but it's okay.

I don't care for flying or hotels so it's limiting anyway.

[SmokingJacket]

I take one every year sponsored by my inlaws' family.

They rent us a house and we all go for free. Totally a great deal -- except this year, even though it was technically FREE, it cost a LOT in transportation, food, and extras. I mean, even a free vacation is getting too expensive.

[cherokeeprogressive]

54. 10 days in a tent at Lake Tahoe.

$27 per night at Emerald Bay State Park. Incredible. Bears and all.

[supernova]

55. Genuinely want to, but travel for singles is really $$$

I'm finding it rather difficult to settle on something that I can do that won't break my bank account. I absolutely do need to get away, I haven't been anywhere in over 5 years.

I'm trying to find somewhere to go that is

1) Fairly nice hotel - i.e. good security (Single woman here, so I have to plan accordingly), a pool, perhaps spa services (a massage or two would be great) decent restaurant on site or nearby.

2) some sights that I can go see and not feel weird that I'm doing it alone.

And I'm looking at places in VA, NC/SC or possibly GA area, but it's definitely hard to find something that is less than about 800-900 for a few days.

[polmaven]

56. Took a "staycation"...

Usually go to the Lakes Region in NH, but the gas situation stopped that this year. My goal for my staycation, though, was to be a lazy as possible, and the rainy and cloudy weather cooperated with that very well.

[Red State Rebel]

57. Dominican Republic for 1 Week!!

Had a wonderful time on a beautiful beach in Bayahibe!! Got a great deal thru Vacations To Go and I'm ready to go back :)

[LWolf]

58. Yes and no.

Yes because, as a teacher, I get a month off during the summer.


No, because I couldn't afford to engage in anything recreational.

I'm not complaining (although I'd love it if this heat wave would move on.)

I spent my "summer vacation" doing daycare for my grandson, including running him to and from summer school, visiting the library, which is right down the road from his summer school program, and holed up next to a fan reading the books I checked out.

I did not get much of the summer maintenance on this old "farm" done. I didn't have the cash.

I did not travel the relatively short distances into the local mountains to hike and picnic by the lakes and streams. I didn't have the gas.

I did not drive into town to see movies. I didn't have the gas, and I wasn't that impressed with the offerings, anyway.

I did not spend regular time with my mom; the 90 mile round-trip takes too much gas.

[Blue_In_AK]

59. Yes, you should be grateful for your gas prices.

Ours are still around $4.36, even though the oil comes from here and is refined about 150 miles south of here. The state attorney general is investigating price fixing.

But to your larger question, no we didn't take a summer vacation, and have only been camping, even, a couple of times since it's been cold and wet here all summer. We're saving our money for a week in Nome in March for the Iditarod finish. We'll probably make it down to the Bay Area later in the fall, but it will be a short trip.