There is a trend toward practicing living like you are on vacation. I thought about how the joy and freedom of RVing can quickly turn to the mundane and daily grind once the RV is returned home and unpacked. That was particularly true when we were weekend warriors. But how do you keep that “on vacation” feeling even when vacation or travel is just a memory?
Keep that vacation mentality
In an experiment measuring the difference between the mindset of being on vacation or back to regular life, participants were asked to either go through their daily lives as normal or act like they were on vacation on the weekend. That simple twist of mental awareness changed how people operated and how happy they were. Needless to say, it was the “vacationers” that were happier.
Do new things
When RVing we tend to do and see new things. That excitement of the unknown or new is one of the things that make a vacation, well, a vacation. Google “top things to do near ____” and fill in the blank with your city/town name. I do that when we are in a new place when RVing and there is no reason not to do that when the RV is in storage or we are parked for a season in an RV park.
When we get back to our home base I tend to settle in and wait for our next trip. But there are lots of new things to do in our area if we would get out of the recliner and just do them!
Take a mini vacation
Travel is still possible even without the RV. Taking a day trip or overnight can be just as enjoyable without the RV, even if it does involve dragging too much stuff into a hotel room and sleeping on a bed not your own. Hint: Bring your own pillows and Lysol!
Go outside
We spend a lot of time outside when RVing. There is something joyful and relaxing about being in nature. There are usually places to hike and explore near even the busiest urban centers.
When you’re home or staying put, pull out the propane campfire pit and “make a fire” or buy some wood and have a real fire. Go out to dinner and sit outside. Go for a walk or a hike, or go sit at the beach or on a lake or a river.
Store the devices
This is particularly true if you are still working. Get away from the office in your pocket and silence your phone! Every *DING* does not need to be attended to. Remember, you are practicing life on vacation for a bit. That’s true of social media, too—put it down!
Take photos
Pull out the phone or camera to take photos only. They are a wonderful way to relive the joy of RVing and all the things along the way. Looking back at old photos is guaranteed to lift spirits even in the darkest days of winter.
Take a break
When back at home base there are a lot of chores to take care of. My joy when being a weekend warrior was that I couldn’t do any of the household chores when camping. No laundry, no cleaning, no lawn mowing, no fixing anything. Living a vacation life doesn’t mean that those chores don’t get done, but it means setting aside time to not do them. Consider outsourcing what you can. We now are in an HOA and it is a relief that they do all the outside work. I would love to have someone else wash our windows!
Time is limited
If vacation mode is what brings happiness, try to keep up the spirit of vacation, RVing and travel. We are not promised tomorrow so may as well make the most out of today.
“Happier Hour”
The book “Happier Hour” by Cassie Holmes, PhD, explores how to better use time to enhance happiness—to not just fill days but to have fulfilling days. It is available on Amazon.
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It sounds like Nanci is ready to move to light assisted living – sort of a cruise ship with lawns & gardens – and let somebody else do most of the chores. 🙂
Live what you write Nanci!! Full time for 8 years and usually 3-4 times a year we take what we call a vacation from the vacation . We get an Airbnb in a big city and play tourist!!
Thank you, Nanci! 🙂 Great idea! We will try to take an afternoon off now and again. There is a lot of work that needs doing, but little of it is time-sensitive. Thanks again, have a great week, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
We live on one of the most beautiful lakes in North America, but it still gets to feel like the same ol, same ol. Because of that, we take numerous rv trips during the 6 months that we are here. We have learned that there are lots of beautiful places to see and things to do besides where our home is.
Moved to Florida after wife graduated college and had a job in Fla. and I got out of Army. We were going to stay for 5 to 7 years to get our marriage started and then go back home – 55 years ago, so we are still on vacation. Our best vacations from “vacation” are back to family where there are projects for me, with our folks or extended family on the farm. I cannot just sit around. “Kelly’s coming, what do we need fixed?” Driving off roads from home and back can take weeks or months of snooping around this country. If I see something shiny, I will make a left, right or U- turn. When we leave home, our destination is home, no matter how long it is to get there.