Time for a "Staycation"

Do you ever find yourself saying, "I need a vacation"? I do it all the time. But for many Americans, a vacation isn't in the cards right now. We're living in some topsy-turvy, scary economic times. Our 401k's are worth half of what they were 2 years ago, the market wavers more than a moody teenage girl, and frankly, we don't know who to trust.

The other day, as I was recycling my junk mail, I fell upon the idea of a "staycation," vacationing at home. I think the idea of a vacation is more of a mindset than anything else. You don't have to be reclining under a palm tree to achieve a sense of calm (although that sounds really nice right now). A vacation is about waking up at your leisure, lollygagging about, and voluntarily shirking your responsibilities and obligations in exchange for some good old fashion family fun. Thanks, Clark W. Griswold.

In the beginning of April, my husband has a week off from school, and we've decided to go on a staycation for two days. Actually, I think it's going to be quite a challenge. Many people, myself included, actually have a hard time relaxing in their own homes. We say, "I'll relax when the _____ is done." And so, we never relax, because there is always something to be done. It's so easy to get sucked into the distractions and send that one last email. For me, this staycation will be about no rushing, no schedules, and no doing. Just being. (That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.)

Here are some ideas for a family "staycation":

1. Turn off the TV and rent a Disney flick or go to the movies.
2. Take a family bike ride or hike.
3. Play a board game or a card game together.
4. Eat out at your favorite restaurant.
5. Go to a children's museum, aquarium, science center, or zoo.
6. Make an ice cream sundae buffet.
7. Unplug the phone, the computer, and the telephone.
8. Give everybody a break from chores and responsibilities.
9. Fly kites in an open field.
10. Dust off the sleeping bags and have a slumber party- ghost stories included!

I haven't yet decided how my family is going to spend our two days. We're going to fly by the seat of our pants, but definitely kick back and just enjoy one another.  And hey, I can light a coconut-scented candle and put on some Banana Boat sunscreen to give it that "beach vacation" feel.