What's the point behind going on vacation?

Question

This may sound stupid and I know it will sound weird to most, but I grew up very poor and we NEVER took vacations. Now that I'm a college graduate and working, my friends are all taking vacations and whatnot. Not only can I not afford to go because I have to support myself, my parents and my disabled sister, but I don't really have an urge to do anything. I would love to travel, but I don't see myself doing it anytime soon. my question is, what is the point behind vacations? I can relax at home rather then go somewhere else to relax. Do people who grew up taking vacations have strong urges to go on them?

forgive my naivety, but I really don't get it.

Answer 1

The point of going on vacations is NOT to relax surprisingly.  Because when you go on a vacation it takes a lot of stress in you to be somewhere out of your comfort zone (your own house, your own bed, refrigeration, bathroom etc).  The point for me anyway of a vacation is to explore something new.  To be in a place where perhaps there is historic purpose once in our human race that now is able to view where in the past you couldn't.  And to see how people such UNLIKE yourself(or myself) lives day to day.  You grow out of experiences such as these.  But don't feel bad, a lot of us(including me) don't get to travel much and so we have to resort to other people's photos and joy while we sulk in congratulating them on be so lucky.  

Answer 2

I think your question is a good one.

Some people simply don't like to travel long distances or away from who or what's familiar in their lives.  Other people do. It's just a matter of personal taste.  Please don't let anyone bust your chops about not wanting to go away on vacations. Travel is a nice plus, but it's not an essential to a happy life.  Anyone who tells you that you MUST go away to vacation regularly otherwise you're not living a "full" life is simply an elitist (who chances are has not really seen much more than airports and hotels and other travelers in whatever foreign place they're bragging about traveling to).  

Even though the travel industry loves to promote the "romance" of travel and talk up the names of famous globetrotters/ex-pats like Ernest Hemingway or play up what used to be called the "jet set" lifestyle, there are many great people in history who seldom if ever traveled outside of their native land.  Jane Austen didn't. Nor did Emily Dickinson. Jesus Christ in his adult life and public ministry never traveled more than an estimated 200 miles from Nazareth.

Some people do have strong urges to go away out of a sense of adventure, but sometimes they go away because they are afraid to commit to something or someone that will possibly keep them in one place for a long period of time...or sometimes they feel they really don't "fit in" in their town, so sometimes they're using vacations and extended travel to escape the fact they have an empty and lonely life otherwise. Some people go away to do the things they wouldn't dare at home because the neighbors would find out and talk... (like the stuff you read about in resorts like Hedonism II).

Allegedly, the "point" of going on vacations is to relax and rejuvenate...and maybe take in different scenery while you're at it, and hopefully broaden one's horizons. Like someone else said here, it's really a big sales pitch...but one that resonates with many people. Nothing wrong with it, though.  However, you don't necessarily have to go far away to relax or rejuvenate. Because of the high costs of fuel and hotels, many people getting the same benefits of vacations by simply going on what are called "stay" cations where they pretty much just relax in their hometowns...or go to places that are less than 50 or 100 miles away just for a day trip and return home that same day.  That's what my boyfriend prefers to do.

As for me, I enjoy travel very much, but I don't go on extended "exotic" type vacations outside of the US because 1) my funds and vacation time are limited and 2) there's so much of the US/North America I've not seen yet and there's a lot of interesting things in your own neck of the woods as there is the rest of the world if one cares to explore it.  

I like to mix vacations with when I travel for business or to visit family. Example? This year, I stayed a week with my daughter in Phoenix, then spent a week in Malibu/Santa Monica before heading back to the Northwest where I live. I like to use vacations to visit historic points of interest.  For me, vacationing gives me inspiration for my art. I like to take lots of pictures or make video, and then I'm home I put it to music or poetry and post them on youtube.

Answer 3

Well I will probably get some flack on this........but I agree with you which just goes to show vacation is within and the weak minded are brain washed into taking their hard earned money to throw it away on a false joy ride that usually never materializes for them and do it again next year wonder if its their own fault for not having a GREAT time on vacation :) LOL

Answer 4

to each its own...I agree

Answer 5

My family generally went to the coast for a week or so during the summer and the point seemed to be to just get away from the daily grind.  No phone calls, no nosey neighbors, no job stress, new faces to see, new friends to meet, new places to visit.  (Never seemed like much of a vacation for my mom though...)

Now that I have my own family we "staycation" a lot.  Visit historical places, see museums, go to the zoo, and etc.  I like to think of vacation as just a time to try all the things that you'd like to do but never have time to when you're working and living your "normal" life.

Answer 6

My husband and I go on lavish vacations once a year and "weekend" getaways a few times a year - mainly for the sole purpose of "doing whatever we want, when we want" - that's our main purpose - eat and drink what we like, buy what we want, do as we feel...it's all person choice as to how one relaxes and finds pleasure...

Answer 7

I suppose it is to 'get away from it all' and relax if you want or just to do anything.