Vacation, All I Ever Wanted
T-POST® #108
I’ve been fortunate to be able to travel a lot in my life. I’ve been to all parts of the world, but it’s mostly been work related. And I sort of like it that way. It’s almost always been to other major cities [usually where most work in my world gets done], and though I absolutely love seeing how other people live [and eat!!], It’s far from relaxing. Which is sort of the point of taking a vacation, no? Hence, me never really picking another city [other than my own, New York City] to take time off of work and visit. In the dictionary, the definition of a vacation is, “An extended period of recreation, especially one spent away from home or in traveling.” And to me, recreation should be as far away from the word work as it could be, and should be. So picking any urban style environment, regardless of even if it’s someplace as beautiful as Paris or Rome, is hardly a vacation spot in my eyes.
That’s why I need to be on a beach somewhere. That’s a vacation to me. Sun all day long, some water to swim and cool off in, a drink sitting next to me on constant refill, and daydreaming of what me and my girl are going to eat for lunch and dinner... That’s all I give a fuck about, and want to give a fuck
Vacation, is it to escape your stressful everyday life or is it time meant for exploration in another city or country?
about, on vacation. I’m not trying to plan a day out where I have to walk through crowds or get on trains and buses with more crowds, to rush to make reservations or get in line to see something tourist-like, just to pass out in my 500$ a night hotel room in exhaustion. My body should in no way, shape, or form be hurting on vacation. Unless it’s from getting burnt by the sun.
Knowing what I want out of a vacation is the easy part, but picking the right spot to go relax each year is a stress in itself. That shit is supposed to be fun and exciting, but because I’m a perfectionist, it’s not. Trying to find the perfect place and perfect hotel where everything is in walking distance so I can drink from the moment I wake up till I go to bed (which is usually around 9pm after drinking all day), with the sound of waves crashing outside to put me to sleep and birds chirping out my fucken window to wake me up in the morning, is not an easy task. I start out by asking friends, then I consult some travel magazines and some websites, but at the end of the day, I need recent, first person, feedback to advise me on the ultimate spot, which, even if I get, usually can’t convince me enough to pull the trigger and book tickets and a room. So most times I end up going
back to places I’ve already been. Vacations are too much pressure. I like to reward myself and go away nicely ($) one time a year, so I’m not into spending a lot of money unless it’s a sure bet, you feel me? I’m not much of a risk taker when it comes to my holidays.
And now that I have kids, I’m even less adventurous when it comes to my vacationing choices. My kids are still young. They’re not into being trekked around a city to see tourist attractions, and sitting on a beach all day is not their idea of a good time (maybe for a few hours, but not sunup to sundown, like I would prefer). They need entertainment. It’s normal. They’re kids. So as much as I want to travel the world with my kids so they can see all the cool things I’ve seen, they may not be ready for it yet. Actually, I may not be ready for it yet. If I have to be honest, I’m not into researching shit for them to do each waking hour for a week straight. It’s my vacation as well. So... We’ve been going to Walt Disney World the past few years. I know, I know, your probably saying, “That’s fucken relaxing!?!” Almost any parent I’ve talked to dreads having to take their kids there, but I don’t. It’s a place I know my kids are always happy, and you know what? It makes me happy seeing them happy. And now that I’ve been there a few times, I’ve fine-tuned and tailored mine and my wife’s experience there as well, so we’re happy. I take the Mickey Express bus from the airport to a Disney resort right on the main property, with a view of the fucken castle right outside my window. We go on rides and watch parades in the morning, we come back late afternoon to catch some sun by the pool and eat dinner, then we watch a movie outdoors and wait for some fireworks. All the while my wife and I are having cocktails (we smuggle drinks onto the rides as well. That’s the secret... To always come equipped). Sun, water, drinks, and smiles on everyone’s faces. That’s what I call a vacation.
Words: Tony Arcabascio
Design: Isabel Andersson
Model: Daniel Sarabia
[1,88 cm tall, wearing mens L]
