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by slfnflctd 2517 days ago
'Taking a vacation' is, to me, something of an outdated concept. It usually boils down to a lot of stress and expense for a string of experiences-on-rails which don't meaningfully connect you to anyone or provide you with anything of lasting value. You're better off staying closer to home and making the most of your time off to bolster your relationships and living situation. I see zero problem with including some more relaxed interactions with your workplace in this.

If you need to 'get away', for real, what you really need is a sabbatical, and to hand off all your work responsibilities to other people. Then you can unplug more fully and might actually stand a chance at finding true value and connections with other people in a more extended trip to a part of the world you've never visited.

3 comments

>> It usually boils down to a lot of stress and expense for a string of experiences-on-rails which don't meaningfully connect you to anyone or provide you with anything of lasting value.

That's how some people vacation. There's a whole host of meaningful activity that falls between vacation as product and a sabbatical.

I'd differ; I feel that a change in the weather, scenery, or food is good enough. Like going to a cold higher altitude area or to sunny beach cities. Unfortunately, such landscapes aren't anywhere close to me. Or like I got to try new food in Vietnam. Change it what makes it all fun, in my opinion? It does cost money, but I keep a vacation fund aside for so I can comfortably enjoy such brief luxuries.

I'm waiting to get the opportunity to do a _complete_ sabbatical. One day.

For me, going to a hotel an hour a way for one night has unexpectedly resulted in a lot of relaxation. The first such trip was not meant to be so relaxing but adding the hotel stay and having dinner at a fancy restaurant really broke us out of our routine.
> don't meaningfully connect you to anyone

Yeah, and they have some other advantages too. Disconnecting from people is half the reason I need a break in the first place.

Ahaha, in vacation mode I keep communication with most people around me zero. Only the closest the relationships & things that directly make me more money :)