Take it anyway.
If you’re even a little bit plugged into the news cycle, the world might feel like a never-ending conveyor belt of terrifying news — and it can be perversely tempting to give in to the despairing sense that travel, like everything else, is beyond repair right now.
So maybe we should unpack some of the hyperbole surrounding 2022 summer vacations. Yes, there are factors that make certain kinds of vacations more stressful than ever. But that has little to do with whether you allow yourself to take a break from the grind.
Consider this an opportunity to rethink both the how and the why of taking a vacation this summer. Reframing the whole idea of a “vacation” — which we have, in our very American way, imbued with all sorts of consumerist expectations to see, do, taste and experience everything — might be the key to finding a way to enjoy your well-earned time off.
For one thing, vacation doesn’t have to equal extravagant travel. Even if you’re feeling staycation-weary, a short trip to a destination an hour or two away can be refreshing without draining your finances — or your patience. Maybe you’ve always equated summer vacations with trips to Europe, beaches or national parks, but there’s something (a lot of things, actually) to be said for hanging out close to home with a cold drink and a good book. No airports. Less sand. Less sunburn. Better snacks.
Also, bear in mind that, current pile-up of negative headlines aside, travel has always been more stressful than most of us would ever admit on Instagram. We often surrender to a necessary amnesia about the realities of traveling. We go into it thinking, like happy fools, that it’s meant to be perfectly fun and relaxing without any of the headaches, even though a common refrain upon returning is: “I need a vacation to recover from my vacation.” We have to delude ourselves about the allure, though, so that we can do it again next year.
Yes, flight cancellations are up, but flying has always been annoying, remember? The debate over reclining and the crying babies and the shrinking legroom — none of that stuff is new. And long road trips? Come on. When they weren’t prohibitively expensive, they were still a challenge. No one really wants to spend that much time in an enclosed space on a hot day.
