Beware, Take Care, and Waste Not
Mar 16th, 2010 | By Jody L Weymouth | Category: Economy“Shall I Stay or Shall I Go?”
March break and Easter can be very stressful for a lot of us. There seems to be an expectation to take a trip to Disney or spend a week at an all inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic, Cuba, or Mexico. Vacations are supposed to rejuvenate us, not make us so stressed over the money being spent that we can not relax and enjoy ourselves. Somewhere along the way, the real purpose of a vacation has gotten lost. What do we really want or need from a vacation?
One of the most fun vacations I went on was a camping trip to the Magdalen Island with my mom and aunt. We had a borrowed tent and no camp stove. We bought a pot and a frying pan at the thrift store. Our meals were cooked over an open fire. What an adventure! We never stopped during the day, packing as much into our short time there as possible. We were so exhausted at night that we slept despite air mattresses that leaked. Our last night there, we set up the tent in the dark. There was lots of traffic walking past the tent all night. At the crack of dawn when we rose to pack up, we discovered that we had placed the tent in the park and not our camp site. Our trip was filled with laughter and memories to cherish forever. It was nothing fancy but it was perfect just the same.
For me, a dream vacation would be exploring new sites, hiking, lots of photographic opportunities, sitting by a fire, and time for reading. The most important part of this would be time spend with loved ones. What does it take for me to have these things? I could have this dream vacation staying at a fancy resort in the nearby park. Or, I can have all of those things and enjoy myself just as much by camping in a tent at the same park. Do not get me wrong: I would love to stay at a fancy resort and be pampered. But am I willing to spend two hundred dollars a night for it? Nope! Spending twenty-five dollars a night for a camp site will not mean that my vacation will be any less than fabulous. It will still be filled with all of the things that inspire and rejuvenate me.
This summer I will spend time camping my way around the Bruce Peninsula and exploring Georgian Bay. Days will be spent hiking, exploring, and of course lots of photographic opportunities. Nights will be spent sitting in front of a roaring fire watching the stars. The most important thing will be spending time with my husband. That is something that no amount of money can buy.
The “Staycation”
There is a new trend developing—the “staycation.” The idea is nothing new: there are often lots to do and see in our own backyards. It is easy to take it for granted and put off seeing the local sites in favour of the more exotic. A staycation can be camping in the backyard and enjoying s’mores and staring at the stars or exploring the local attractions. Or it could mean a weekend at home watching movies that you have wanted to see or curled up in bed with a book you have been dying to read. A day spent at the beach followed by a picnic and a sunset stroll. Think of all those things that you have wanted to do but never have the time. Want to go on a painting workshop weekend but do not have the money? Find a friend to teach you in exchange for a service you can provide. Or get some friends together who are also interested and with the help of a book from the library, you can have you own artist retreat weekend. Love to visit a spa? Create a spa weekend with friends at home. Have each person bring some food and a spa necessity. No need to splash out the cash for expensive beauty products: have fun making your own with ingredients from your kitchen (recipes are easy to find on the internet).
Your dream vacation is not really limited by your bank account, just your imagination. The library where I live has passes that can be checked out for local attractions and museums. It is a great resource and money saver. Travel guides are often filled with coupons. The internet is another place to search for local deals.
Decide what is most important for you in a vacation and find an affordable way of achieving it. A vacation should not mean breaking the bank to enjoy yourself. Money cannot buy a relaxing time if it is money that you do not have! Remember that the most memorable moments in life are not about the money that we spend creating them: it is about sharing love and laughter with those who mean the most to us.
Some great web-sites for staycation ideas:
7 Great Staycation Ideas and Tips
Our Best Staycation Ideas (Better Homes and Gardens)
Staycation Tips: Day trip ideas across Canada (CTV)
World Traveller’s Staycation (HGTV)
37 Fresh Staycation Ideas (super eco)
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You do not need a big resort vacation to have lots of wonderful memories, but I do enjoy my week retreat each year. It is a week to be just me again, saying goodbye to my responsibilities.
That being said. We had a wonderful trip up to MacAsuland’s Woolen Mill with our 10 year old daughter during march break. She was the only customer. I was amazed at the time and patience they had with all of her questions and pictures. If you have the chance it is a wonderful trip on PEI.