I really need a vacation. It’s not that work is particularly bad, but I’m tired of the endless cycle of Monday-to-Friday weeks separated by weekends. And one needs a change of location and routine sometimes. I’m a little bummed that it’s the second week of August and Matt and I haven’t been able to go anywhere. Matt has not been allowed to take a vacation from the New School all summer, which is ridiculous – they shouldn’t have to rely on Matt for everything. Other hall directors get vacations, and so should Matt.
As for me, I have 36 days of vacation saved up and no idea what to use them for, other than as random days off. But a random day off isn’t a vacation. I’ll probably wind up doing what I’ve done the last few years, which is to take a week off in late August and not actually go anywhere.
Part of the problem is that I don’t know where to go. Well, I have some ideas, but I’m either afraid of going to unfamiliar places or afraid of running out of things to do once I’m there. Which is weird, because I’ve travelled to several places around the world over the years with my parents. (And lived in Japan for three years. OK, there’s that.)
Anyway, Matt and I might go to San Francisco in the fall. That could be fun. I haven’t been there since I was 14.
I would love to go to Italy. I think. I do wonder if all the artwork and churches would get repetitive over time.
We went to Washington, D.C. last summer for a four-day weekend. It was a bit of an odd choice, as I spent eight years living and going to school about two hours from D.C. and made several trips over those years. But it turned out to be terrific, because I’d never really visited the city as a tourist, except on a trip with my mom and a friend of hers many years ago. Matt and I chose our own itinerary, steeping ourselves in American history (one of my favorite subjects) and visiting a bunch of traditional D.C. tourist sites that I’d never seen before.
I also have a problem spending money. I’m reluctant to spend money on a trip if I’m not sure I’m going to enjoy it. For instance, I’m curious about visiting Berlin, Vienna, and Prague, because, hey, I’ve never been there! But it’s hard to get myself to spend money on it if I don’t know what I want to do there.
And I worry about things like choosing a bad hotel.
I just need to get better at planning vacations. And take them. Otherwise, life just passes by, and before you know it, you’re old and have gone nowhere.
I heartily agree about the necessity of taking a vacation. If you’re concerned about the cost of a trip, find a friend who lives someplace interesting and go visit him or her. While this may not sate your urge to see Italy or Berlin or wherever, you’re assured that, even if you run out of things to do, you can still hang out with a friend and get a local perspective on wherever you’re visiting.
Plus, if the friend has a spare room or a sofabed, you may save a little money on the lodging aspect of the trip.
No trip is a wasted trip.
You could also take a look at the on-line website that list last minute package deals and just see where you could go for what amount of money from NYC. Even if it’s someplace off the beaten track like Columbus, OH or Bismark, ND, you’d still be getting out of town and seeing someplace new. And you might be able to get a deal.
I just got back from LA and definitely recommend it. There’s no way you could run out of things to do, no matter what you feel like doing, and David was asking me when you and Matt would be coming out. :)
Gosh, you sound like you’re suffering from vacation anxiety. I think you should start with some small two-day bed-and-breakfast trips, and work you way up to a full blown European tour. It’s not like you don’t have enough days saved up! :)
Italy? You’ll only get tired of churches and art if you don’t like really spectacular food and wine–and gelato.
I reccomend Palm Springs. It’s bright. It’s hot. It’s practically deserted. It’s perfect for the two of you to veg out and do nothing but maae love, stare longingly into each others eyes as you float on twin inflatables in the swimming pool, gasp at the shooting stars in the nigthtime sky, or brethlessly contemplate the escarpment (it’s not really a mountain) that hangs alongside the town like a gigantic piece of stage scenery.
The Cochella Valley is so-called because the, golfers, movie stars, cater-waiters and massuers who first founded the place noticed that the the sandy ground was covered in sea shells. That’s because a zillion years ago it was the the bottom of an ocean.
Then the ocean left town, leaving in its wake a clutch of gay hotels, my favorite being the InnExile — owned and operated by a pair of retired Vegas chorus boys.
Tell them I sent you.
I think sometimes the best vacations are those which are essentially unplanned. When I go on holiday, apart from an arrival and departure date, and some basic plans, I don’t like every i dotted and every t crossed. Having a strict agenda creates stress and expectations that sometimes can’t be met. Sometimes the most joyful times of my vacations have been those little moments of unplanned serendipity.
It is the journey itself that stirs my heart. It is everything found and felt along the way. There is always something to see and experience wherever you are. If you can afford it, go to the places you dream of, and imbibe and be nourished by the experiences they bring you.
There is a whole world of beauty and fun and diversity out there awaiting your eyes and heart.
What about Paris? And London ain’t half bad either. Daylesford, Australia, where I live, is very gay-friendly:
http://travelvictoria.com.au/daylesford/
And no, I don’t work for the local tourist office!
Oh, and and you are spot-on with this: the art and especially the churches in Italy can get very repetitive – I think I could not vist any church for months after my first visit to Italy.
And I can recommend a very good small hotel in Paris with extremely friendly service (they speak near perfect English for starters) if you ever asked ..
You must consider coming Downunder. You can not find a better and more welcoming continent. I love reading your blog and I am confident all of Oz would welcome you both for a vacation. Contact me.
Thanks, everyone. Helga and Peter, I haev been to Paris, London and the eastern coast of Australia (Sydney up to Cairns). Australia would be a long, expensive trip! I really would like to visit some parts of Europe I haven’t seen, though.
Take all the days together and write.
i love taking trips without defined plans. (mattP doesnt like it so much), but its really easy to go to berlin, prague, wherever and just explore, it’s an adventure. i loved my trip to london and berlin a couple of months ago (it had been a while since i was in either place. london is of course easier, but berlin is lots of fun). i google mapped a bunch of hotels (i mean, how much are you in a hotel anyway) and just looked at books, kept my eyes open, and decided over dinner each night what i’d do the next day. i really get off on taking trains in foreign countries (especially ones that are in different languages).
with that much time, you can really do a long european trip. i’m jealous.
m
Italy is a good option for you. Start north in Milan or Vienna, train your way down through Naples, Florence, and Rome, and end with a few days of sunning yourself on the coast of Positano.
The mix of cities ensures enough variety so you won’t feel trapped or bored, and each one has a unique personality. Starting with Venice and ending with Positano ensures you’ll have more epace and quiet on both ends of your trip with all the rush and noise in the center section.
Come visit Tucson in the winter!
Just for the record, I have 41.65 days of vacation saved up myself. And it doesn’t look like I’ll be able to take any of them until late September or October.
Spring and autumn are my favorite times to travel. Since I travel solo (unfortunately by default rather than by choice) it’s a lot more pleasant to go in the off-season when everything isn’t crowded with couples and families. It’s also cheaper then, which should particularly appeal to Jeff (I’m Jewish too). So now’s the time to plan an autumn getaway!
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You two should totally vacation in SF. But I’m biased. :)
Parts of Europe you haven’t seen? Come to Ireland then! Great people, gorgeous scenery. The land of saints and scholars. Great fun
And Berlin is not half bad either Mike (and Matt)! My brother lives and works there – yours truly was born in Germany but has been living in Australia since January 1985 and has since become an Australian citizen.
Here’s Berlin’s very good official website:
http://www.berlin.de/
Lots of stuff going on if not quite as much as in London culturally speaking ..
Gesundheit!
Sorry/Entschuldigung: should have been ‘Jeff’, not ‘Mike’ of course!