Friday, April 28, 2006

Vacation Withdrawal

Since I am on the subject of boycotts, how about a driving boycott? How hard could it be for American drivers to have a boycott on summr vacation driving. Do you really have to drive to DisneyWorld? The Smokey Mountains? Grand Canyon? Yellowstone? Why?

It has been my experience that vacations are more often than not more stressful than relaxing. And people that drive hundreds of miles to their destinations might well find that a good one fourth of their vacation is spent on the time it takes to get there and back, along with the inevitable navigation though traffic once you arrive at your destination. After you finally settle in and you have had a days rest, you are probably counting the hours you have left before you have to return.

What do you get for it all? A few pictures, and a handful of memories that almost never match your initial hopes. And you’ve probably blown at least a months worth of wages, all for the opportuity to get to wonder whether Tigger was feeling up your little girl.

The truth is, if you have to drive somehwere, you can probably find a place right in your own state where you can enjoy yourself at least as much for a fifth of the cost and a tenth of the stress.

The best thing about it is, if enough people actually did it, it would be by far the best way to really stick it to the oil companies.

5 comments:

Rufus said...

This is a great idea. We should all have walking holidays. Before long, I'm thinking that riding the rails will come back too. Let the cars rot.

SecondComingOfBast said...

People have been pushing for a return to rail travel, Michael Dukakis comes to mind. It will eventually happen, maybe the current energy situation will hasten it somewhat.

Unfortunately,there are way too many people that just can't live without their cars, or think they can't, for a driving boycott to have much effect. Some people will burn up the roads come what may. I just can't understand it.

It's like Christmas, if everybody would boycott certain kinds of stores for Christmas, and buy less for just that one period of the year, they could really exert their power over the government. That's the only power we really have, the way we use what is in our wallets.

autogato said...

Bicycling is also nice. My graduation present to myself will be the purchase of a bicycle. It's such an environmentally friendly way to travel.

Walking is wonderful, too. I noticed that before I ended up having to DRIVE everywhere, I was able to appreciate my surroundings much more. Driving past one's community at 35MPH doesn't afford one quite the opportunity to interact and view and appreciate like bipedal locomotion.

autogato said...

I also admire your proposition regarding vacationing within one's own state. Often people seem to have this idea that a vacation must mean getting very far away. However, as a friend's father put it, you need to know your own land first before you can appreciate another. There are several things that we take for granted nearby - wonderful things that go unappreciated. Why not take the opportunity to enjoy them now?

While I live in MS, I plan on checking out what AL has to offer this summer. Getting to AL is actually closer and faster than getting to some places within my own state. I am also a frequent visitor of the gulf regions of LA & MS. And we all know they need the revenue right now. Who says I must traverse the country? I can enjoy myself while providing much needed contribution to local economy.

SecondComingOfBast said...

Yes, I would make an exception for the Gulf Coast, otherwise I recommend confining vacations to as close to home as possible. A way to stick it to the gas companies while still supporting your state and local businesses.

About the bicycling, another benefit is the health aspects. Bicyclig is good for the heart and respiratory system, the muscles, it's relaxing and pleasant (once you get used to it), and you can even combine it with shopping for small, incidental necessities that always spring up out of nowhere.