Staycation

All year we work hard, put our time in and our bank grows. Unfortunately it’s not always our financial bank account that is growing, rather our vacation bank. And as we accumulate those days we dream of luxurious vacations, warm destinations and days filled with relaxation. And as the days at work get long and hard or the climate becomes ideal and we are all tempted to take a vacation day, it takes true restraint to recognize the value in holding off. In my case, I even denied myself pay during my maternity leave in efforts to achieve this. In years gone by, we have had elaborate plans for these wonderful vacation days. This year, however, we opted for a staycation. And although I’m only part-way through my staycation, no words can describe the ecstasy I’m experiencing. I have found my happy place. All four of our family members are at home with no other agenda but to have fun and make the most of our time together. We have had action packed days full of fun activities, we have relaxed at home, we have had home cooked meals and fun dinners out. As the week continues, I’m tempted to say I never want a vacation again. Yes, the weather stinks and a Caribbean island would be wonderful. Yes, the excitement of going to a kid-friendly theme park would be thrilling for us to experience. But nothing else in the world would bring me more joy than a week at home with my loved ones. And as the week progresses, I’m haunted by the fact that I have to wait another year for this opportunity. I’m haunted by the reality of going back to the real world because right now I’m entranced by this fog of shear happiness and I didn’t have to spend very much money or effort to reach this utopia. How can I bring some of this happiness with me as I embark in 2011? How can I bottle it up so I can revisit this when the days get long and hard? How can I get back to this happy place on a more frequent basis? Well for right now I’m just going to enjoy every second of it.