It’s really a shame that a word like “staycation” had to be coined. It’s a clever word, I’ll give it that, but really: Who among us looks forward to a vacation when we go nowhere?
In the good old days, a vacation was something to plan, and anticipate, even salivate over. Oh, the places we’d go! The beach, a cabin on a lake, a lush resort, a bustling city with museums and theaters.
This year, I am compelled, once again, to look forward to another staycation.
First, there are gas prices. Will they ever stop rising? And there is nothing we can do about it. I’ve become rather obsessed with gas prices. When I go to Covington, I make my long circuit from the library to Low Moor and back, assessing the price of gas. Then, I choose the “cheapest” station to fill up. I try to never get below a half a tank, but even that costs upwards of $30 these days, maybe more.
Last weekend, I motored over to Pocahontas County, WV, to see three old friends. One of them is, of course, a wonderful dog. And then there’s the fellow, with whom I used to work. But this time would be special because the fellow’s wife, who lives in Germany, was over on one of her visits.
I should have been happy about the prospect, but what came to the forefront of my mind? This: How much gas is this trip going to use? The answer is more than four gallons, which as things stand now, is about $20. And that’s just to get there and back!
If you’re going a vacation that requires flying, well, good luck to you. The nightly news footage of packed airports, people sleeping on the floor, and queued up for hundreds of feet, makes me discard that idea altogether. I never much liked the airport part of flying anyway. Thank heavens, I’ve never had to spend the night in one!
There’s a shortage of pilots, apparently. Folks plan and pack and drive to the airport and pay a lot to park. Then they get inside, only to discover the plane is there, but there’s no pilot to fly it.
I heard last night that “they” are thinking of relaxing the regulations for required flight time and instruction for pilots. I do not think this is a good idea. It’s a bad idea! Imagine your pilot looking at the complicated instrument panel and wondering, “Let’s see now; where are the thrusters? Is this the aileron? How do I make this thing back out of the gate?”
No thanks.
So, with driving out of the equation, and flying off the table, just how are we going to get to our vacation? We’re probably not: We’re having a staycation whether we want it or not.
I like to think I can use the downtime to sort through the books and clutter I’ve accumulated through the decades. But, I know I won’t do that.
I will spend my staycation just like I spend every “free” day I have now: Sitting on the porch reading, and walking in the woods. None of that requires much, if any, of an expenditure. And, I don’t have to worry if I don’t have a pilot!
Staycations … we better learn to love them!
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