shaxper
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Post by shaxper on May 5, 2017 9:55:48 GMT -5
So my summer break is coming and, now separated, I only have my kids half the time and am all by myself the rest of the time. Thus, I'm thinking maybe it's time to have an adventure. I'm not a wanderlust kind of guy. I'm very Bilbo Baggins (pre-Gandalf), generally happy in my little Hobbit hole. But the biggest thing I'm trying to wrap my mind around in this post-marriage life is that my destiny isn't the one I've been expecting all along. My comfort zone is gone, so maybe it's time to experience some new things and find a new me.
I don't like to vacation. I can't think of anywhere I particularly want to go or anything I particularly want to do, but if I don't want to spend half my summer in an empty house, living in the past, I figure I've got to get out and do something. Any ideas? While I'm not in a great financial position, I can probably swing any vacation cost if it's something that sounds worth it.
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Post by brutalis on May 5, 2017 10:14:23 GMT -5
Good for you Shaxper. We it is never good to staying home and stagnating yourself. Adventuring out away from home helps to inspire and remind/provide stimulation for the mind and body and heart and soul.
One of my vacation regular plans as a singular entity is the several day drive/visit/see the local sites. As i had a camper at the time, throw in a mattress into the back, ice chest full of fruit/veggies and water and juice with a bag of traveling munchies then i would head out on the highway up into the mountains or out along neighboring states just driving and taking in the wonders of nature. Along the way stopping off or going off the highway to any small town or parks or lakes or rivers or location which might capture my interest. No particular destination instead allowing myself to enjoy the trip and views. One of my best trips like this was traveling up the Pacific Coast highway of California and another was here in Arizona spending several days camped out at the Grand Canyon.
Every state has wonders and glories to behold if we make the time to search them out and avail ourselves of them. I love going up into the mountains here in Arizona to the small cities and spending a week there and visiting the local restaurants and libraries, cultural and surrounding national parks/rivers. Lots of hiking and natural sights to savor and take me away from the daily work drone routines. Seeing God's magnificence and glory in what he crafted for us always rejuvenates and helps me through the daily work tropes.
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2017 10:56:27 GMT -5
I think it is great Shax, but you need to get your kids involve in this and make it a fun thing to do and look for opportunities that you can explore together. I like brutalis thinking about all the states wonders and explore them for their own good. His thinking on the last paragraph of his post hit me on the head and I would do that instantly. If you are thinking of taking a month off; you could put your house in an one month rental to help pay for it. I have friends that done that it's works great in their advantages if you have the right tenant in that position. I feel doing it together on your home state is more feasible than you think. I will be going to Disney World in September for a week and have fun there; but you gotta listen to heart and your kids of what they want to do and believe me it's will be a rewarding thing to do. Think Creatively. |
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2017 11:10:21 GMT -5
I agree with the above posts. Vacations don't have to be expensive. I would do two vacations - one with your kids doing something they want to do & one just for you to get recharged.
I don't have any specific suggestions although brutalis ideas seem to be more in line for what you may be looking for.
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shaxper
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Posts: 22,871
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Post by shaxper on May 5, 2017 11:34:02 GMT -5
Good for you Shaxper. We it is never good to staying home and stagnating yourself. Adventuring out away from home helps to inspire and remind/provide stimulation for the mind and body and heart and soul. One of my vacation regular plans as a singular entity is the several day drive/visit/see the local sites. As i had a camper at the time, throw in a mattress into the back, ice chest full of fruit/veggies and water and juice with a bag of traveling munchies then i would head out on the highway up into the mountains or out along neighboring states just driving and taking in the wonders of nature. Along the way stopping off or going off the highway to any small town or parks or lakes or rivers or location which might capture my interest. No particular destination instead allowing myself to enjoy the trip and views. One of my best trips like this was traveling up the Pacific Coast highway of California and another was here in Arizona spending several days camped out at the Grand Canyon. Every state has wonders and glories to behold if we make the time to search them out and avail ourselves of them. I love going up into the mountains here in Arizona to the small cities and spending a week there and visiting the local restaurants and libraries, cultural and surrounding national parks/rivers. Lots of hiking and natural sights to savor and take me away from the daily work drone routines. Seeing God's magnificence and glory in what he crafted for us always rejuvenates and helps me through the daily work tropes. This is exactly the kind of advice I needed. Wonder what it costs to rent a van for a weekend? I'll look into it. Thank you! |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on May 5, 2017 11:43:20 GMT -5
The great outdoors do wonders after a year of labor.
I find that even a one-day trip on some mountain or one night under the stars feels like a whole week in terms of experience and sheer living. I would recommend doing things you've never done before; scaling walls, kayaking, spelunking, anything to get you out of your zone of comfort. That bloody zone is so enticing... but it can also choke us sometimes.
Last thing I did that really got me out of it was snorkeling on a Cuban reef. I swear, wondering "how far can the closest unseen shark be, really?" makes one feel wonderfully alive!!! (Thankfully I never saw one. I'd probably have peed myself!)
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2017 11:55:52 GMT -5
where do you live Shax? are you close to a coast? I'd highly recommend a cruise. . . . several lines offer "singles" cabins (they are tiny, and tend to be inside cabins) and you won't get charged the standard Double Occupancy requirements, so it can be VERY affordable. just eat the offered food in the MDR, or buffet (all included in cost of the cruise), and get off the ship to wander at all the ports. can be a great way to see lots of places very inexpensively. just a suggestion  edit, here's a Cruise Critic article from last year, that breaks out the Cruise Lines that offer single cabins (if you didn't want to pair up w/ someone to share a cabin): www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1989 |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on May 6, 2017 13:19:58 GMT -5
where do you live Shax? are you close to a coast? Cleveland. Right next to Lake Eerie. I also take my girls to the Southern New Jersey coast each summer. I did a cruise with my wife years ago and just didn't see the point. We saw a few interesting places, but most of the time was spent on a boat sitting around and/or eating. I just don't think I'm cut out for cruises or all-inclusive resorts. |
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Post by wildfire2099 on May 6, 2017 13:31:30 GMT -5
I travelled alot for work before the book store closed... though I didn't really get to do alot of touristing, I did some... my favorite places:
1) San Diego - You have the Zoo, they have some fun naval museums on the waterfront, and lots of other little museums and such, which are all conviently in the same place.
2) Washington DC - Tons of cool history, mostly free. Definitely an experience you should have if you've never been.
3) Colorado Springs - I didn't get to do the stuff, but they have all sorts of different stuff going on.. nature, Wild West stuff, NASCAR stuff, etc. Also the legal pot thing if you're into that.
4) Boston - I live here, so it's hard to remember it's a tourist spot, but it is. Lots of cool history here, too. I bit expensive, though.
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2017 14:57:47 GMT -5
2) Washington DC - Tons of cool history, mostly free. Definitely an experience you should have if you've never been. I agree with this. Great vacation spot. Easy to get around with a Metro pass. The only big expense is finding a decent hotel. |
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Post by Prince Hal on May 6, 2017 15:26:04 GMT -5
I second DC! And the Jersey Shore is great, which you already know, I guess.
Have you gone to Wildwood when yuo're down there? Highly recommended. Fun for all ages.
And I also second wildfire's recommendation of Boston.
Let me add to Boston Cape Cod, Western Mass and/or Vermont. Whether you like camping, hiking, swimming, and/or museums, historic places and drop-dead scenery, there's plenty to do and see, and much of New England is driveable in a day. A four-hour drive from Boston takes you to Northern Vermont or NH, deep into Maine or out to the Berkshires.
And on your way to New England, drop in to see the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Even if you're not a big baseball fan, the town is a gem.
I'm rushing and generalizing. Lots to do and see here!
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on May 6, 2017 17:19:32 GMT -5
Have you gone to Wildwood when yuo're down there? Highly recommended. Fun for all ages. That's actually exactly where we go. Wildwood Crest. Family tradition. Been going since I was in utero  |
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2017 18:48:10 GMT -5
2) Washington DC - Tons of cool history, mostly free. Definitely an experience you should have if you've never been. I agree with this. Great vacation spot. Easy to get around with a Metro pass. The only big expense is finding a decent hotel. We stayed at Courtyard Marriott, right off the National Mall (we walked to Washington Monumdng, and right up the street from the University Metro rail station that got us everywhere else we wanted to go). Super, SUPER reasonable rates during the week, during July. |
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2017 18:50:02 GMT -5
where do you live Shax? are you close to a coast? Cleveland. Right next to Lake Eerie. Gonna be at Cedar Point (for Coastermania! weekend) in just about 4 weeks. . . LOL. . vacation to come meet up |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on May 6, 2017 18:57:41 GMT -5
Cleveland. Right next to Lake Eerie. Gonna be at Cedar Point (for Coastermania! weekend) in just about 4 weeks. . . LOL. . vacation to come meet up Got a guest room if you need a place to stay |
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