One of the biggest disadvantages of being alone is that I have no one to go on vacation with. I haven't gone away for vacation in almost 2 years now. I know, I know... That may not seem like a long time to a lot of people, but I've been dying to go somewhere for a while now.
The truth is that I've never really taken a vacation where I got to do what I really wanted to do. My most recent trip was to Miami a couple years ago. I went with a few friends, and I got dragged to clubs, bars, and through the entire Miami night life scene. Some would have a grand time on that kind of trip. I think anyone who has read my blog for a reasonable amount of time would know that night life isn't exactly my style.
I just have this overwhelming urge to go somewhere with beautiful beaches, lush scenery, and warm weather. I'd love to go to Hawaii or somewhere in the Caribbean. I want to spend about 5 days just relaxing in the sun, sand, and ocean. I want to go see the sights that I want to see and have nice quiet dinners. I'm not in college. I don't need to go away and party. I would say that phase of my life is over, but I never went through it in the first place.
Every time I get a vacation week off from work, I get bombarded with a million questions about where I'm going and what I'm doing. There's only so many times I can tell people I'm just going to be relaxing at home until I feel like a complete loser. I know they're just harmless questions, but how am I supposed to answer them? Sometimes I just want to shout, "LOOK! I'm single and at an age where most of my friends are either married, engaged, or in long term relationships. Who am I supposed to go on vacation with?"
I know some people travel by themselves, but I just can't picture myself doing that. I think I'd just be miserable the whole time thinking how lonely it is to be in such a beautiful place by myself. Therefore, I'm stuck here and forced to listen to everyone else talk excitedly about their vacations.
And just to make it clear, I have no desire at all to brag about my vacations to everyone I know. I generally don't like talking about my personal life. (Instead, I just tell everything about myself to the world via the internet). I just want the experience. Hot sun, warm water, palm trees.... Just a few days of that is all I want.
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Go alone to Fiji. There's a little island called Beachcomber's island - you can walk all the way around it in ten minutes. The accomodations are hostel-style, most people staying there are travelling alone. Hang out, eat, drink, read, snorkel, whatver - very relaxing...
Walking in warm sands e.g. Fiji sounds wonderfully relaxing. That and ocean breezes, etc.
A consideration might be to consider the vacation agenda...
Hot sun, warm water, and palm trees are available in places only a short plane hop away, or as far as overseas.
Too, there are options in group travel for individuals if wish to participate in at least some group activities e.g. meals, hotels.
The last (and first) trip abroad was planned to derive an 'educational experience' for my son's senior high year since he was going to drop out anyway. (I mention this because we were often not very agreeable traveling companions.) Over half of the tour group was made of couples, but we were all friends at the end of the 10 days. However, I wouldn't mind, now, that I've gone once, to go back by myself and spend some time really 'vacationing'.
Seriously! I completely understand. I'm 26 and all my siblings (all 4 of 'em) are married and having babies. Most of my friends are engaged or in serious relationships.
And then there's me. I'd LOVE to go on a fun road trip or have a few days at the beach, but b/c I'm not in a serious relationship I pretty much just sit here. In my hometown...chilling.
This one has really been bugging me recently: going to Concerts! I LOVE live music and have up till recently always had a plethora of concert buddies to choose from. But now?? Hardly! Its incredibly frustrating.
who cares! go on a vacation alone if you really wanna have fun solo (and we all know that we can get more done when we're alone).
Hey I know,
Why don't you take your hard earned bonus from 04/02 (everyone please read) and spend it half on a vacation and half on someone/charity/tech/ etc. You were so sad in April of the "big bonus" you made that maybe you would feel better now giving it to the needy. Palm trees are nice to sit under but the people who rely on them for coconuts could do better with your bonus check dollars by harvesting them than by you sitting under them.
Just a thought.........
Yeah... I'm actually broke now because that check went towards the house.
Which doesn't make me a hypocrite by the way... There's no point in being the only person to give a bonus check back to the company. In addition, I put the check to good use. That doesn't change the fact that I (along with the other pharmacist making 6-figure salaries) didn't need the check in the first place, and the company would have been better off taking that money and putting it into computer or equipment upgrades.
The check wasn't gigantic by the way. It was less than a normal paycheck. However, that adds up when you give the same bonus to every freaking pharmacist the works in the chain.
I feel the same way about vacationing alone. I'm a single female pharmacist and I have been going on vacation with my single younger sister. I didn't go anywhere until my sister graduated from college, so I had quite a while where I just visited my parents or friends for vacation. I have considered those tours for young people or singles, but I'm not that outgoing, so I don't think I'd really have a good time.
I have a solution Mike! There are volunteer vacations all over the world, where you don't have to go in a group or as a pairing. There's a reservation in Montana that does 1 to 2 weeks Habitat for Humanity stuff and whatnot. There's some in Asia and South America. It could be a life-changing experience!
I also hear that families aren't even doing vacations nowadays due to being unable to match paid vacation time together. That families now do long weekends instead of 2 weeks off. Don't feel too alone. My last several vacations were with my mother to San Fran and Grand Canyon. None of the friends I had could ever match vacation time with me, plus most of my relatives are not living near us.
I would totally go chill on the beach with you. Don't worry, I'm a "loser" as well. =) I haven't been anywhere in almost 3 years. I'm only 24 and am sick of bars and clubs bleh. Rather swim and lounge in the sun reading.
I would totally go chill on the beach with you. Don't worry, I'm a "loser" as well. =) I haven't been anywhere in almost 3 years. I'm only 24 and am sick of bars and clubs bleh. Rather swim and lounge in the sun reading.
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