I meet a young man who mentions he took vacation last month.
“Where did you go?”
It’s a natural question.
”I visited my family in the Kootenays for a week and spent another week at home.”
He mentions how rested he felt when he returned to work. Like he had really been on vacation.
I think about the staycations I took over the years—how I leaned in to them and appreciated the peace of being at home and doing whatever I wanted, which was usually not very much. I returned to the office feeling refreshed too. Vacations spent at home were among the best times I spent away from the office.
I always felt a little guilty when asked what I was planning to do, or what I did, on my vacation. As if staying home wasn’t enough. And there’s that word again—enough—it’s dogged me for much of my life. I’m finally learning to stand face-to-face with it and call it out for what it is. Liar.
I am enough. I have enough. I do enough. I believe it most of the time.
Now I’m on permanent staycation and it’s a sweet time of life. We vacation away now and then—but not often. It’s always been my desire to stay home. Now I can.
I think about that young man who recently returned from his vacation. I sense he is a kindred. And my daughter, who is beginning a staycation right now too. And those of us who are deeply rooted in a place, in our homes, and with whose who share our ordinary days. It’s a gift, this contentment. I grow more certain of it every day.
Linda, I just had the privilege of being home alone for 3 weeks. My husband was away. It became a retreat for me and helped me bring my overwhelmed self back into a whole, enough, person. It was wonderful and though I missed my man, I think I’d like to do it again!
Joan, I understand completely. I appreciate the days in the summer when hubby takes backpacking trips and goes away for annual salmon fishing trip. I deeply appreciate times of solitude and, like you, come out the other side feeling more like myself. I’m happy you were gifted with this opportunity.
I relate to your conclusions completely, Linda.
We took a vacation for 4 days this week. The first two were spent at the home of a friend and her husband. They wanted to show us all around their vast community. Then they wanted to talk, talk, talk. Even though I sensed that this encounter may have been a divine opportunity, we were happy to move on. Then next day was an over night at a Victorian bed & breakfast, which was restful but too short. Before we set off, we had car battery problems, which had to be resolved in between.
The trip out of town was not restful, but I now believe some of the buttons on my emotional dashboard have been reset, a good outcome. In short, I appreciated home more than ever when we got back. 😀
Your experience reminds me of the words of Lord Byron, Marian. “I only go out to get me a fresh appetite for being alone.” I’m happy to hear you were able to hit reset. 🙂
Linda, I can only add one word to yours this morning…a resounding amen!
When I was young people always referred to a staycation as Margate and Painton. The word must be new. Now I am retired every day feels like a staycation.
I have never heard that term before, Anne. How interesting! I wonder what it means? I first heard the term “staycation” back in 2007/2008 when the economy was tanking and people were, of necessity, opting to stay home rather than travel for holiday. I’ve was a fan of staying home and putting down roots long before it became a “thing”!