Problem With Vacations

I have to agree with some of Anderson's Details article on the problems with vacations. I am about to go on a little vacation myself and went back and reread Anderson's Problem with Vacations article. Here is a snipet.

"I do love nice hotels. There's nothing sexier. Perhaps it's the anonymity of it, the ability to just stay inside ordering room service, watching fishing-lure infomercials all night long.

But the problem with hotels is that it's impossible to resist the DSL connection in the room. No matter how many times I swear I'm not going to check my e-mail, I end up searching the desk for the connection cable, and once I'm plugged in, that's it. Vacation over.

I used to think I was the only one not taking my vacation days, but I recently saw a survey conducted by Expedia.com that said Americans fail to use 415 million days of vacation each year. Which helps explain why the average vacation in America has dwindled to just four days.

Europeans take off a month -- and that doesn't include siestas, strikes, or cigarette breaks.

Sure, Europe hasn't really produced anything of note since the Black Death, but who has time to gloat? We're too busy working.

What's even worse than not taking vacation days is taking them just to catch up on all the work crap you've been avoiding.

I did this last month. For two days I organized files, paid bills, and filled out old expense reports.

When I came back to work everyone assumed I would be all rested and ready to roll up my sleeves. My sleeves had never been unrolled. "

Vacation is a time to do something that isn't part of your normal routine. So, I can see why Anderson would rather not go on vacations. Out of his routine would be sitting at home being a couch potato watching American Idol and Super Sweet Sixteen.

When I told co-workers I was taking more than 1 week off they couldn't believe it. Even though we all have the days it is unusual now to take that more than one week off. Some of my coworkers will just take the one week and not go anywhere - ever.

Anderson has said "the whole thing about being a reporter is that you're supposed to be an observer and to be able to adapt with any group you"re in". I think the reason why is that he has seen the world and has a better understanding of why people do the things they do and are what they are. My friends that don't ever venture out of their hometown are missing out on what the rest of world has to offer and an opportunity to see magnificent places and things.

I would love to see 1/4 of the places Anderson has seen. Maybe one day I will.