Vacation Time

A vacation, also referred to as a vaca, trip, recess, break, holiday, or a journey, is ideally an absence from the everyday, obligatory routine for a brief or extended period of time, preferably spent somewhere pleasantly unfamiliar and relaxing. Contrary to the standard definition however; often my experience with traveling to a specific location to enjoy rest and relaxation results in much more stress and hard work then if I had just stayed home.

For example, my recent ten day vacation to the sandy shores of South Carolina resulted in jeopardy of my sanity and contentedness. Having driven about sixteen hours in a medium sized rental car with my eighteen year old son, his sixteen year old girlfriend, and my twenty year old daughter, I was tremendously exhausted and I could not bring myself to contend with the arguments these three young adults were engaging in due to their fatigue and personality differences. As the days of staying in the South wore on, my patience wore thin. Their anxiety-filled squabbles escalated to an all out war during our last night together, preventing us from sleeping and getting the needed rest for the trip home. The next day, while at Fort Bragg Military Base, I wrecked the brand new Malibu that I was operating because of the distress I'd experienced all week and my lack of alertness.This wreck was only one of many nerve-wracking problems I encountered during this harrowing trip across four states.

One way to travel on a holiday is in an airplane flown by a pilot. Flying is a simple way to get from one place to another without having to fight traffic, get lost, or wreck a vehicle. Someone else is taking me there, and all I have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the accessible experience. Of course, soaring through the sky is more expensive than most other modes of transportation, but the comfort and speed make flying well worth paying in the end. It is amazing how far planes go all over the world, every single day.

Another way to experience a journey is driving a vehicle to a destination. Ground travel usually takes longer than flying on an airplane but has its advantages, such as opportunities to stop along the route when one chooses to. Moreover, one can eat, stretch, go shopping, go to a restaurant, or do other activities while on a road trip. Also, viewing beautiful scenery out the window as the traveler passes by intriguing places never seen before is exciting and also educational.

For me personally, the ideal recess would be doing nothing but relaxing. This I can do by lying on the beach, soaking up the sunshine, warming my soul as well as my skin, letting the ebb and flow of the tides mesmerize me as I lazily absorb the sea. With no one there to bother me it would seem to make time stand still. I have done this a few times while at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

In addition, many people consider a typical vacation the time they can allot for traveling to a destination that will give them the opportunity to see famous landmarks and attractions. Also, to shop in various, unusual stores or to witness entertainment they could not experience back home.These tourists wear themselves out by running around and usually need a long rest after returning home because they failed to lounge while away.These types of trips are usually traveled by bus tours and personal vehicles.

Finally, my idea of what a vaca should be and what many of my trips have truly been are two different views. I am planning a rest for myself and my husband next trip because we both love the serenity that the mysterious ocean brings, and we enjoy just doing nothing together. Of course, we have separate opinions about what that nothing can be, so maybe I will just end up going by myself!