It used to be that when you could not afford a vacation you just stayed home. It was not a requirement that everyone or every family go away on vacation. Get this, we used to save several years and then go off on the holiday. Now we feel we are entitled to go away on vacations. It is not healthy not to go on one. The media tells us we can get away by taking advantage of the "cheap" air fares. That might be true, but who pays for our hotel room when we land in New York City?
To remove our guilt for not going away we have the term"staycation." We are encouraged to stay in town and see the sights here. I remember friends who used to check into hotels in Mpls and see the sights here and act like a tourists just so they would see things that we only see when we have out-of-town guests.
I say ,"Don't feel sorry for yourself." We have great things to do here. In fact just sitting in your own backyard and cooking things on the grill you have never had time to try is great. So many Americans are so busy or work so much, that they really don't enjoy their house, go to the park down the street, or see friends and relatives. Just tell those at work you are on vacation and check out of the real world and into your vacation mode.
Steps to take:,
1) Make do not disturb signs for the door handles of the bedrooms in your house.
2) Put the phone on silence, so you are not tempted to answer the phone and turn off the computer.
3) Buy food you normally do not serve. Make little menus announcing to family members what you will be eating. Have the shrimp cocktail, grill the thick steak, and eat something chocolate afterwards.
4) Put a small piece of chocolate on the pillows at night and turn back the covers.
5) Buy on sale thick, white robes to wear.
6) Put fresh flowers from the farmer's market in large vases throughout the house.
7) Serve dinner where you usually do not eat. The porch, deck, patio, dining room, basement wherever makes it special.
8) One night load the family in the car and drive-up to your house and have one person be the server from the drive-in. Serve hot dogs, fries and a malt.
9) Make a miniature golf course out of your yard.
10) Project a movie on a sheet on the side of your house and serve popcorn and drinks.
Be creative and you can have the best time at home. Involve everyone. I am going to bet this will be one of your best rested vacations you have ever been on. The family fights will be limited. The family pet will love that he came along. You will have no guilt about spending too much money. Last things, go the drug store and buy post cards. Mail them to your family and friends telling them you had the best time on vacation this year. Get creative and take a picture of all of you on "your vacation" and email it to friends and relatives telling them you had a blast.
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