Sunday, March 23, 2008

I Need A Vacation

Lately, I've been feeling pretty worn down from work, and I could really use a vacation to revitalize myself. However, being that I only get 2 weeks off per year, I make sure to take them during the summer. Afterall, who wants to have a week off in cold weather... unless you go somewhere warm, but then you have to come right back to the cold weather, and that just sucks.

I'm really tempted to plan a trip somewhere, but the catch is that I kind of just want to go somewhere by myself. I've gone to Miami with friends the last couple of years, and while it was fun for a little bit, I always felt like I came home more tired than when I left. I just feel like going some place warm and quiet. You know, somewhere I can just relax on a beach all day, take a walk or drive around in the evening and just be at peace.

I thought about just taking a road trip somewhere. Despite my concerns about wasting gas, I really enjoy going for long drives. However, I'm quite a long way from any beach that's worth going to, so I imagine all that driving would tire me out. Therefore, I figure if I go somewhere, it would have to be by plane.

Ideally, I'd love to go to Hawaii. I've been there twice. The first time I went was with my family when I was 14. We visited Oahu and Mauii. That was my favorite vacation. The next time I went was again with my family when I was 22. That time, we went to Kauai and the Big Island. I loved Kauai. It wasn't as overrun by tourism as Oahu, so a lot of the natural beauty of the island was still intact. It was so peaceful there. I'd love to go back. If I had to pick a vacation for myself now, 5 days on Kauai would be really nice.

The only problem is that it would be pretty expensive. For one, the airfare is outrageous now, and only getting more expensive. Hotels aren't cheap either, and I don't think I can justify spending all that money on a vacation by myself, even if it would be exactly what I was looking for.

Moreover, wouldn't it be a little weird to go somewhere like that alone? I wouldn't mind hanging out at the beach by myself all day, but going out to restaurants and eating alone would be awkward. Plus, I don't think I've ever isolated myself from people I know for that long. I'm not sure how well I'd handle it. Afterall, a big part of the experience is sharing it with someone.

As you can see, I'm pretty torn on this issue. I know it doesn't have to be Hawaii. That's probably too grand for what I'm looking for. Maybe I'll look for a peaceful place that's a lot closer.

Maybe what this is all really about is that I miss the warm weather. I hate winter. I feel trapped in my little apartment because it's too cold to do anything outside. I can't wait for it to warm up, so that I can go down to the park and just shoot hoops by myself.

Shooting hoops is actually pretty therapeutic for me. For one, it gives me some much needed exercise. Secondly, it provides me with a way to escape the daily madness. I can listen to my MP3 player, think about things, all the while I'm treated to the comfortable rhythm of the ball going through the net over and over again.

If you've never played basketball, or if you're simply not a very good shooter, you probably wouldn't understand the kind of rhythm I'm talking about. All I know is that when I go to shoot around, the ball releasing from my hand and then going through the hoop feels all part of one smooth motion. For me, it's no big deal to start on one side of the hoop and go around the key making 15 to 20 shots in a row. It's just so rhythmic and calming, and it's also a nice little boost of confidence to succeed at something over and over again.

Anyway... I'm just kicking around ideas now. All I really know is that I feel like I need a break from the daily grind.

Of course, I say this on the eve of the busiest pharmacy day of the year for us. The Monday after Easter always puts us close to 700 prescriptions for the day (on a normal Monday, we'll do in the low to mid 500's. I have to open the store tomorrow, and I can't wait to see how many are waiting for us on the refill line. I'm betting around 70 or 80. It should be fun.

9 comments:

Jeny said...

Just started reading your blog! I've become addicted to pharmacy blogs in the past week or so. I hope you get that vacation soon. Have you been to Key West? It's really nice there and low key.

MrHunnybun said...

Good call with Kauai, it's a lot less commercial and more laid back than Oahu. I got married in Kauai, so maybe I am biased.

If you haven't been on one then take a helicopter trip over the Na Pali coast. It might produce a bit of CO2, but flying over that scenery with the helicopter doors open is remarkable

Anonymous said...

I'm going to Galveston in April for the TPA meeting. I'm staying an extra 2 days to do exactly that, lay on the beach, eat by myself, etc. I know this is awkward but I'm alot like you with relationships gone bad and being lonely for companionship. You should go to the meeting. I would love to meet you.

Pharmacy Mike said...

We did a snorkeling tour of the Napali Coast last time I went. It was unbelievable... except I get motion sick really easily, and by the last snorkeling stop, I was almost too sick to get into the water. Otherwise, I loved it.

Anonymous said...

Don't worry about eating alone...it's actually kind of fun to people watch. Plus, you can always bring along a book or something. I would love to go on vacation and be in complete solitude.

Anonymous said...

Mike,
Go to Hawaii, just suck it up, and buy the tickets! Walk the beach, go snorkeling, buy some puka shells, go to a luau,and choke down some poi. Have some drinks with Umbrellas in it and engorge on local fish.
Bring some books you always wanted to read and go for it! I have a single friend who goes to hawaii every year..alone..and enjoys every minute of it. You might just find yourself...and come back refreshed.

Gail said...

I've been told that instead of staying in a hotel, its actually much more reasonable to rent a condo while in Hawaii. You'd have your own quiet space, you could cook your own food if you liked, and just hang out. That actually sounds really fun, except I suck at just laying around and sunburn easily. :)

Eric, AKA The Pragmatic Caregiver said...

Consider the Dutch Caribbean. Easy to get to from most of the country, and the vibe is great.

E

Anonymous said...

I don't know where you live but there is great place on the Florida panhandle called Perdido Key. It has great white beaches. Almost nobody knows about it so there is never a big crowd. There's not a big nightlife so if you are into that, you need to look elsewhere. But, if you want a nice beach and somewhere you can kick back and relax, look up Perdido Key, FL