Vacation Time

I have resorted to a writing prompt about vacations!!!

I don’t know who invented vacations. The internet claims it was the Romans. I don’t think I would call any of the travels in the Old Testament vacations. Pilgrimages and migrations don’t really count, and it was technically work trips taken by the explorers in the age of exploration.  I know the gilded age of oil tycoons and railroad barons started the idea of vacating the city for their “summer” homes, but is that the start of the current practice we now call vacation?! Perhaps, it is the entitled person (aka. all of humanity) who has adapted and tweaked the concept of Sabbath rest into a self-indulgent holiday rather than the opportunity to realign one’s heart to the heart of God and recenter one’s priorities to those of the Almighty.

There are so many types of vacations: destination and cultural immersion, camping, visiting friends and relatives, road trips, cruises, special events, activity and adventure, traditions and holiday, personal growth retreats, group, educational, volunteer, and more. Sometimes there are multiple reasons for one trip. But the fact is that they are opportunities to take a break from the routines and schedule of everyday life and be refreshed, renewed and restored.

When I was growing up we always took a family vacation or two. We went to family camp at Forest Home and we were sent on retreats, mission trips and camps with our youth group. We went places; I have been in 49 states as a result. We spent extended time with extended family in Alabama or Upstate New York. We went to National Parks and cabins in the winter snow. We drove across the country, always stopping at Stuckey’s and Howard Johnson’s and the occasional roadside attraction or historical marker. My family of origin still laughs at the misadventures and the memories we share. Similarly, when the grandkids turned 10, my parents took them on a special trip, each one different, and the cousins still talk about the similarities and the things they endured.

Our own family enjoyed vacations. Jim and I spent 12 years together before we had kids and we went on several amazing trips, ministry opportunities and the occasional out-of-town hideaways. When we moved to Illinois, we knew that being able to take a family of four by plane to California would be cost prohibitive so we made the most of our time in the midwest by camping, traveling to ballparks, visiting new places and building relationships with our extended family whenever possible. My kids are well travelled adults with their own memories of our family trips.

I just had the most amazing adventure with my adult kids and their spouses to Chicago. We all cannot wait for the next trip!

All this begs the question – Why travel? What is my favorite place or type of travel? Where am I going next?

I am not sure where I am going next – the trip with the kids was supposed to be to Scotland this summer but Chicago became the reality and it was fantastic. Financially and job wise we need some shifts in the positive direction to make the Scottish Adventure come true; and I would love to follow up with Barbados or Israel.  I would love to go to Uganda with Colleen. North Dakota with Susan. China to see Catie.  BHOF with the dog.

My favorite vacations are tough to narrow down as I have been fortunate to go many beautiful places. As I write this, the ones that come to mind as highlights include Israel, Barbados, the UK, Spain and Europe, especially Austria and Croatia.