Although it’s been a few months since Glen and I went on a sojourn, we can easily recall the pleasure of our last one to Parksville and Victoria. Sojourns bring happiness in the planning and anticipation before departure, enjoyment at the destination, and in the memories to discuss once they’re over. Studies increasingly show that short getaways provide benefits equal to those of long ones. Enter mini vacations: sojourns of two to five days.
BENEFITS
- Mini vacations put less pressure on our bank accounts, enabling us to travel more often in a year.
- If we go by automobile, the logistics are simpler. There’s no need to book months in advance with an airline. We can be flexible and pick our dates based on promising weather forecasts. By advancing our trip to Vancouver Island by a week, for instance, Glen and I missed several days of rain — which would’ve dampened our spirits when communing with nature.
- The time constraints of a quick getaway compel us to devise a tight agenda to ensure we participate in all of our desired activities, an important consideration especially if we don’t intend to revisit the destination.
- Packing made easy: it requires 15 minutes only to pack a suitcase for short trips.
- We avoid jet lag by going to places nearer to home.
- We can use these occasions to disconnect — from devices, from the anxieties of daily living, from depressing current events. Our stress levels will be reduced, at least for a time.
- New sights stimulate our minds and provide conversational fodder.
To get started, look at the different possibilities within an eight hour driving radius and note those for future getaways. Not only should we make an effort to go on vacations but taking more of them for brief periods contributes to our overall well-being. Right now San Diego lies ahead for Glen and me. We must decide whether or not to go to the zoo. While I’m not one for viewing housed animals, the World Atlas ranks the San Diego Zoo number one in the world. Thank you, readers, for offering your opinion on this attraction — and any others you may want to mention.
Trips of all lengths come to an end; the wonderful memories remain. •
P.S. Don’t read this piece as an argument against long vacations. If our wallets can oblige and our inclinations lead us afar, maxi vacations also accrue significant benefits.
Patricia Young says
Pam, It’s great to have you back in e-print! We were chatting just this morning about how long it has been since we had the pleasure of receiving the Sunset Years in our inbox. I couldn’t agree more with your comments but – as you know – we are also great proponents of the long sojourn as well. In fact, we are planning one for November/December 2020 already. The only thing I might add to what you say is that booking flights in advance and jetlag are not the greatest problems of flying. These are the growing hassle of making one’s way through airports – and the carbon footprint of flying itself.
Keep up the good work,
Pat
Pam McPhail says
I am eager to learn of your plans for late 2020, Pat. A third consecutive trip to New Zealand perhaps? The glamour of flying ended with the 20th c or earlier when the esteemed Wardair (1952-89) folded into Canadian Pacific which itself eventually merged into Air Canada. Now flying is simply a way, albeit a necessary one depending on the destination, to get from A to B.
John Grant McPhail says
Since Dale’s work takes her all over the place I sometimes join her if she is somewhere interesting. This has given me opportunities I would not otherwise have. We have met up in such places as Louisiana, Savannah, Newport News, New York City and Hong Kong. The breaks are refreshing for me even though it may only be 3 or 4 days. The other advantage is that Dale’s hotel is paid for by the company and she has accumulated a lot of airmiles so our costs are minimal. We enjoy seeing new places as you do. We also find that it takes two of us to tell the stories. Only tough when our gaps overlap!
Thanks for picking up the writing again. I hope to be in Scottsdale in early January for a few weeks.
Merry Christmas!!
Pam McPhail says
I toured Washington DC thanks to a conference Glen attended. Payback came when he visited New York City during one of my professional events. On a research grant we spent two weeks in England. No such perks in retirement!
See you in sunny Scottsdale in the New Year.
Linda Watts says
I have missed your writings as well Pam. As you know, I love to travel for long periods or short. Either gives me a bit of a kickstart again on enjoying life and where I live. Take care and do go to the zoo as it is amazing.
Pam McPhail says
You’ve been on some exotic trips, Linda. Any plans in 2020? Will you return to Mexico for several weeks in the winter?
TIM MCPHAIL says
Almost always when I’ve gone on a two week trip, the last couple of days have involved a certain ” Wish I was home” ennui. I guess some people are natural travelers, some are happiest at home. I’m probably best suited for Salutary Sojourns. Thanks for putting a poetic name to my penchant.
Pam McPhail says
You long for home, Tim, because you fear your trivia bar will slip from first place in North America without your penchant — and memory — for trivia. On your next (annual) sojourn to Vancouver with Rod we should find a pub to watch you in action.
Ian Wallace says
Pam, it’s good to see your wonderful blog coming back to life. And you are right, travel is good for one’s health, even if the trip lasts for just a few days. Especially fun are spouse conference junkets, which is how I was able to visit St John’s, New Orleans, Washington, DC, and other places at little personal cost. Thank you Patricia for the free lodging! These days I enjoy visiting nearby places although I still occasionally dream of walking around Red Square in Moscow or going out for dinner in Buenos Aires. Long or short, there are no bad trips!
Pam McPhail says
You are an intrepid traveller, Ian, and I don’t doubt you will one day realize your dreams. For preparation you could enrol in tango classes and Pat will join you on the dance floor at a club in Buenos Aires.
Sonya Bardati says
I have been to San Diego zoo in January. The big animal were basically asleep and we had not seen as much as we were expecting. Sea world was better for more interaction.
Meanwhile, if you do take a short Vancouver Island trip, you must make it to our house, stay awhile, we will show you around and yes go for a hike, how about Mount Washington? Or lesser Englishman River? Etc….
Sonya
Pam McPhail says
Rather than go to the zoo, I think we will spend several hours on the USS Midway aircraft carrier, especially having recently seen the Greatest Events of WWII on Netflix (the battle of Midway was one of ten) and the movie of 2019.
Thanks for the invitation, Sonya. On our sojourn we stayed at Tigh-Na-Mara to gain easy access to Rathtrevor Beach for long, salutary walks. Then we went to Victoria to visit my brother and his wife. Didn’t build time into our schedule for socializing in Parksville. Maybe next time.
Glen Wickens says
Always fun to take a short trip with you, Pam. You didn’t mention our visit to the falls on the Englishman river during our stay at Parksville. Just needed to get rid of all the sun bathers on the lower part of the river. Fly fishermen only, please. Good thing I read your blog: I didn’t know San Diego is next. I vote for the Zoo and Sea World. Better to look at animals than the homeless.
Pam McPhail says
We’ll be taking a road trip to San Diego in January and the USS Midway tops our list of attractions. Spending a day at Balboa Park is also on the agenda. With 17 museums and cultural institutions at the Park, you will have to break your rule of one a day!
sonythegirl says
Shame on you two for not staying at our place, next time, don’t forget
Patricia Britton says
Hi Pam. I agree with all who have written before me, and join them in saying how glad I am to see you writing your blog again. I’ve missed you.
Your brother and you seem to share a zoo reluctance. What we liked about the San Diego zoo is the aerial tram where the animals are running loose and people are in a cage (aerial tram). That was as much as I could get Roy to do at the zoo. There is lots to do in San Diego. If you can, take in Balboa Park. It’s huge and there is lots to see and do.
I also enjoy short vacations… long ones too of course … but also short ones. Mostly I like to have something I can look forward to. I definitely agree with you there. And now with my grand daughter a 6 hour plane ride away, I think that will be a more frequent sojourn. !!!
Thanks again for writing Pam. Always enjoyable and thought provoking.
Patricia
Pam McPhail says
Thanks for your kind comments, Patricia. I didn’t realize Roy and I shared a reluctance to visit zoos and don’t know its cause. I have fond memories of going with him in the ‘60s to Al Oeming’s Game Farm — allegedly the world’s largest private animal collection. The zoo occupied 500 acres of land east of Edmonton so maybe there were no cages, at least not small ones.
We’ll take in Balboa Park for sure!