Exploring

Exploring

One of the great joys of being on vacation is being off schedule and – as much as possible these days of electronic leashes – off the “grid.” I’m incapable of having a lazy, do-nothing day at home. I can manage an afternoon once in a great while, but the call of the messy junk drawer, the unpaid bill, or the interesting new recipe is too much for me. On vacation I can attend to none of these.

Spontaneity is not my strong point because I really don’t like anyone’s spontaneity but my own. A vacation is different – I love the new, the unexpected, the unplanned. I arrive at my destination with annotated guide books – and I do use most of the ideas I’ve highlighted – but I surrender to the freedom of getting up whenever we feel like it, eating when and where we want to, and just going with the current of the day. Sometimes an attraction that you’ve greatly anticipated leaves you flat, but en route you stumble upon some unreported treasure that captivates you.

That’s the wisdom of stepping out the door in the morning with your comfortable walking sandals on your feet, a spare sweater tied around your shoulders, and your map and guide book at hand if you need them.