Staying put during your vacation?

What do you call a vacation where you don’t go anywhere? According to JT from The Environmental Blog you call it a “staycation”. I like that idea – a stay at home vacation. Think about it for a minute - no rushing around in planes, trains or buses, no credit card bills to pay immediately following your vacation, and no long car journeys involving a repetitious series of questions starting with, “Are we there yet?” Yep - this is the only no aggravation, low carbon footprint, money saving vacation idea I’ve heard of. And what’s more, if approached sensibly, it has the potential to deliver a lot of fun for everyone in the family! JT, I take my hat off to you…

Okay, so what do you do on a “staycation”? Well, The Environmental Blog reckons that…

If you live on the west coast or the east coast, try visiting the ocean. The beach is always fun whether it is off the hot southern California coastline or the rocky tide pools off of Oregon’s coast, there is always some great summer adventures.

I’ve got a couple of additional ideas about what you might do during a staycation. I’d like to toss them out there…

Start an herb garden – Whether you’ve got a spare bit of yard that’s not being used, a few old tubs that no longer see the light of day, or simply a windowsill covered in pigeon poo, you’re in business. Starting an herb garden is good fun, relaxing, and provides you with a wonderful source of fresh food in the weeks and months to come. If you’ve got young children, get them involved. Children that can enjoy the simple pleasures to be had in growing an herb garden are probably going to do pretty well in life. With all the distractions and nonsense that they’re going to have to contend with in their later years, any time spent now enjoying life’s simple pleasures will likely generate positive outcomes.

Volunteer – A bit of social connection is always good for the soul. If you look around your local neighbourhood there’s bound to be projects and groups looking out for people to lend a hand. Does your neighbourhood have a community garden project? Is there a low cost housing precinct nearby requiring volunteers? How about your local school – do they need someone to lend a hand mending some items? Is there a local history group that’s in need of assistance? Getting involved in the community makes a difference to both your life and the lives of those around you. Helping other folks out is a pretty special feeling and one that’s not easily replicated during a traditional vacation.

Give it a try – having a “staycation” might just be a lot of fun!