May 2009 Archives

Vacation season is upon us at a time when money is tight. In 2008 we coined the word "staycation" as a result of the popularity of staying close to home for vacation. Money is still sparse in 2009, but this year, we've perfected the practice, knowing just how rewarding a staycation can be.

Finally, an excuse to take advantage of the many festivals, parks, and other attractions we one day hoped to visit. For me, one example is this weekend's Civil War Reunion at Pennypacker Mills in Schwenksville, PA. I'm not really a history buff, but this is an event that I've wanted to check out since I moved to the area 20 years ago.  

Also, last Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer was filled with festivals in the Northeast, offering a perfect summer-vacation-planning guide. The Life is Good festival in Boston caught my eye as did the school-bus demolition derby at the Big Butler Fair near Pittsburgh, PA.

It's so easy to miss what is right in front of us. When we spend thousands on a trip, we make sure we experience everything possible in order to get our money's worth. Yet, we rarely apply that same "do it all" approach to our own backyard.

Besides the benefit of saving money, leisure at home means we invest at home. Not only do we then spend money in our community restaurants, gas stations, and attractions, but we also utilize historic and recreational sites that rely on citizen interest and support for their annual funding.

Traveling the globe exposes us to fascinating cultures and landscapes, but staying at home swells our own culture which helps us to remember who we are.

So, if you're feeling down in the dumps that you don't have the money to travel, grab a pen and paper and make a list. Pull out those brochures stuffed in a drawer, get a copy of May 24th's Inquirer, thumb through your own local paper, call your Chamber of Commerce and begin writing down all those nearby gardens, theaters, boat rides, restaurants, festivals, tours, swimming holes, hiking trails, and wineries. Take the list with you on your morning commute so you can add to it as you think of ideas. Then hang it on the fridge and pack your suitcase for a trip home.

Thousands of boy scouts pitched their tents in my neighborhood recently. They were attending their annual jamboree in Green Lane Park, and despite a torrential rainstorm, each campsite was set up neat and tidy. Besides possessing the knowledge of how to properly set up a tent, they also must have had a truckload of tarps, rope, stakes, hammers, (Band-Aids,) and towels.

Moms are another fortified group, always ready with whatever implement is necessary to fend off the next disaster. It sure is nice when she has just what you need, right when you need it, but at what cost to her sanity? I mean it takes a lot of advanced thought to ensure that all bases are covered, and that does not leave much time for listless daydreaming (a.k.a. relaxing).

If I were a CFO, I suppose I would look to a return-on-investment analysis for the answer. How good is it to have just the right thing when you need it? Is it worth the investment of time and thought to have packed it and have lugged it around, only to store it away again when you get home? I say,  "if not, then forget it and be consciously unprepared."

I don't think those boy scouts would agree, or at the very least they would still be drying out from the rain. And while we may envy them for their preparedness, I wonder how often the troop leader wants to say, "Ah, the heck with it."

Remember when Mom would constantly remind you to say "thank you?"  

It's so easy these days to forget to say those two simple words. Frustrated, busy, and stressed, we forget to express thankfulness for both the little and big things our family members, coworkers, loved ones, and strangers do for us throughout the day. Meanwhile, the simple expression brightens the day of the gracious individual who gave us something because they are likely as stressed or frustrated as you.

It's a virtue to have a grateful heart, but let us also remember that the giver of kindness does not always know we are thankful, even when it may seem obvious. Whether it be over a lollipop or life-saving CPR, don't forget to say "thank you."