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Vacations, what are they good for?

There used to be a time when I enjoyed going on vacation, but now not so much.

I don't know if it's simply because of all the little things I hate about traveling, i.e. packing and unpacking, checking into and out of hotels, airport hassles etc. or simply the fact I don't need to travel anywhere.

I already live in an area which has everything most people dream of in a vacation. I sure don't need to drive very far, or fly to all corners of the world, to get away (my justification for our latest trip to Solvang/Santa Inez). I can go to Disneyland for that, and still sleep in my own bed at the end of the day.

Sure it's enlightening to experience new places, but I've seen most of the US, and I've been to France, Italy and England. I lived in Okinawa for 18 months, and vacationed in the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Fiji (twice), Tahiti, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. I've even been to New Zealand. I don't need any more enlightening.

Plus, I'm not into culture. I'd just as soon watch a travelogue, or look at photos someone else has taken of the places I've never been. My real reason for going anywhere is to experience the food and wine of a region, but I can get all that right here in beautiful southern California, and in spades!

So why go through all the hassles of leaving home, worrying about how Morris and Chloe (our cats) are doing, or feeling down because I'm not out riding my bike?

The truth of the matter is I don't. I just need to accept that realization.

I know hearing all that won't please the travel industry very much, but why do I need to please them? [I never really considered them an industry anyways.] It should, however, keep the local restaurant's happy, as I'll be able to frequent them more often, as well as the wine industry, by keeping my wine cellar well stocked with lots of high quality wines.

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