In a perfect world, several days off combined with a lighter work schedule would mandatorily follow vacation. As such, this doesn’t happen. Last week, I rode a bicycle in Napa Valley (wine country), California*. By valley - they mean hills. It was intensely gorgeous. I had a great time, and I ate great food and drank great wine … I’m very exhausted and bloated. And my legs are sore.
I had a conversation with some people on the trip who said they vacationed quite a bit. Some people are fine with packing/unpacking/flying and all that stuff - but for me, it’s hard every time. I’m not complaining - just saying that I’m not cut out to be a frequent flyer; I have a ton of respect for those who can. Towards the end of the week, a fellow rider said she was counting the tenths of the mile before she was done. She was very tired and had had enough. I totally get that as well. A good vacation is when you come to appreciate home.
Again, I loved my week off, and I encourage anyone and everyone to use their PTO to recharge their lives. I hear all the time from people who’ve maxed out their PTO, and it stops accruing (I’m one of those). Hey, the punishment is not ISH to you (for not continuing to accrue once you’ve hit your max) … it’s you to you for depriving yourself of time off. Take your PTO; do something, or do nothing … relax, and recharge.
*When the bike trip was over - I had an evening in San Francisco before my flight and took a driverless taxi (Waymo is the name) to dinner. I guess I read about them, but until you see one in person, it doesn’t feel real. It was excitingly boring. I waved and acknowledged all the rubberneckers who were looking at me in a driverless car just as I gawked at the Waymo’s when I first saw them. I asked around, and the driverless taxi is only allowed in the downtown area … it won’t take you to the airport (which would be crazy scary).
