Today I am going on a two-night trip with the family. The destination promises to be lots of fun. But it takes a lot of research and planning to figure it all out. Then there is the packing and the traveling to and fro, including airports and rental cars and traffic and things that aren’t much fun.
I figure we will sacrifice about three normal days to make two of our other days extra good. Is that worth it?
A month from now I know I will remember the good times and not the sitting at the airport. So the memories will be good. I have a theory that most vacations are about memory upgrades. You become a different person after each trip, literally, as your brain takes on new shapes and chemistry from each experience. I think the selective memory phenomenon is what makes three bad days of planning and travel a worthy trade for two good days of actual vacation.
Clearly there is something wrong with me. But if you are reading this blog, you probably have it too.
Well, personally, I would rather simplify my life to such an extent that a vacation is never really desired. I would have no real need for a break, since I have no stress. All memories of pain would be subsumed by the relatively strong magnetic pull of the earth.
Posted by: John | April 25, 2008 at 03:02 PM
You are right about memory upgrades. That is what schizophreniacs should do - take vacations. But you know the worst problem with all these schizophreniacs is that their other brain dominates and they remember only the time that they spent in the airport with an itch in their back!
Posted by: Vijay | April 10, 2008 at 02:27 AM
The selective memory phenomenon also applies to moving into a new house. You only remember the newnessy of it all and not the carrying forty heavy boxes and an array of furniture.
Posted by: Elise | April 07, 2008 at 05:39 AM
My best memories are of times where I went out and did something with very little planning and research. The less you know about what you are about to experience before you experience it, the more surprising and exciting the whole thing is, which creates a more lasting and vivid memory.
Posted by: Dave | April 02, 2008 at 08:22 AM
It's not worth it, but you have no choice. You have no free will. Give it up and quit bitching. Oh, that's right, you can't.
Posted by: Freddie | April 01, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Reminds me of that floating brain theory you talked about recently. Perhaps the experience of the passage of time and all of your life up to this instant is just an illusion and you're actually just a sudden flash of memories that manifested out of nowhere in an endless universe where everything eventually happens.
Posted by: Anarchy In Your Head | April 01, 2008 at 07:12 AM
With my recent experience I can suggest to take your family to Loire Valley. This is one of the best vacation spot I've ever visited.
Posted by: Vacation | April 01, 2008 at 03:00 AM
No Scott, you're the only one like that.
Nah, everyone (at least I am) is that way. Except for when we get home and have to unpack, that seems to be the only part I remember after that :(
Posted by: Jay | March 31, 2008 at 10:08 PM
“The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet.”
-- James Oppenheim
Posted by: Jan | March 31, 2008 at 03:20 PM
You should try getting a Virtual Assistant, like the ones at getfriday.com. They could plan things like vacations for you. Would it be an improvement? Who knows? But, it would certainly make for fodder for the comic strip.
Posted by: John Hewitt | March 31, 2008 at 12:53 PM
If it involves having your batteries recharged on a sun-splashed beach for two days, it's well worth the trouble. Can you plan my family's vacations too, Scott? And send us a check to pay for it? Pretty please? :/
Posted by: well, yes. | March 31, 2008 at 08:35 AM
At least you have vacations!
Posted by: Jesus | March 31, 2008 at 07:52 AM
Yes you are right.
Posted by: shopping cart | March 31, 2008 at 05:56 AM
Most of us remember pleasant experiences as they provide solace to us and the memories associated with vacations remind us of our good times. The best part about vacation is that time is at our disposal which otherwise is a rarity in our normal daily schedule. Most of us have hectic life schedule which drains us physically and mentally thus even a small trip helps us in rejuvenating our body and mind.Thus a couple of days of planning is worth the trip.
Posted by: Sharmila | March 31, 2008 at 04:27 AM
The economics of your trip get better if you are not just going on a trip for two days. Don't be so cheap...
Posted by: Harald | March 31, 2008 at 03:34 AM
Sacrifice two "normal" days of what?
Sitting in the office drinking coffee and staring at an empty inbox?
I'd rather be with the kids in an airport lobby watching planes take off.
Posted by: PaulyB | March 31, 2008 at 03:29 AM
Depends on how bad the travel is. If the trauma of getting there is more memorable than whatever you were planning to do on the vacation, you'll remember the trauma.
You're just betting that the annoyance of travel will be less than the good of the trip. Usually a good bet under normal conditions. But get trapped in an airport for several days in a snowstorm or something, and the pattern won't hold - you'll remember sleeping on the floor of an airport for the rest of your life.
Posted by: Ron | March 31, 2008 at 02:24 AM
From a performance improvement perspective, your experience should help you massively reduce your common 'administrative' tasks such as packing and car rentals.
I suggest:
- Pre-packed suitcases for different vacations whether it be 'sunny holiday', 'ski-trip', 'tools to keep in-laws at bay',etc.
- Incentivise Billy at the Car rental agency to always give you the best car at the best price (after all, most car rental agencies promise that anyway!)
- Identify a good travel agent and make him / her a close friend to sort out flights and hotels
- Use waiting time at the airport to do some research for your next holiday
- Hire a geek programmer to develop a Web 5.0 type tool that 'experiences and learns' your preferences of travel and times of travel in the year and can then book your holidays for you for the next 10 years including all the administrative tasks - all you have to do is point at the suitcase you want to take when the chauffeur arrives at your door to collect you and the family for the drive to the airport...
Posted by: Sham | March 31, 2008 at 02:06 AM
Is this similar to the birthing experience (I'm a man, but Scott already knew that). The niceness remembered and the excruciating pain forgotten?
Posted by: Mike | March 31, 2008 at 01:29 AM
yes.
Posted by: Shivam | March 31, 2008 at 01:26 AM
How much worse are the 'sacrificed' days than your everyday-life days? If they're disproportionately stressed, maybe it's not worth it. But I bet they're not much worse than any other day -- just a different focus. So it's worth it.
This could be a good game. How long do you have to stay in a particular destination to make it worth the planning? Hawaii is pretty easy to plan. Two days in hawaii is definitely worth the planning. Columbia, while amazing, requires some forethought. I'd probably want to stay for at least two weeks to feel like it's worth the effort.
Posted by: phastphil | March 30, 2008 at 11:30 PM
FIRST!
Posted by: naveen swamy | March 30, 2008 at 11:22 PM
Wasn't this the business model in Total Recall - don't go on vacation, just get the memory implant?
Posted by: Djimbo | March 30, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Agree. Selective memory makes it seem worth it. Why else would someone spend 2 months planning for a 15 day holiday in Egypt, checking out people who kept planning on how they would die...(I am sure the pharaoh's also had a selective memory disorder which made them think 'death is fun'!)
Sushil
www.doodlewala.com
Posted by: Sushil | March 30, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Isn't this the business model in the movie Total Recall?
Posted by: Djimbo | March 30, 2008 at 10:38 PM