I have a confession: I’ve been a hoarder this year.
Negative connotations probably take hold of the psyche with the mere mention of the word “hoard.” Visions of junk pervade the mind. However, obsessively collecting possessions in pack rat fashion is not the type of hoard I mean.
I’ve been hoarding something that doesn’t take up space and is invisible. I’ve been collecting it through abstinence.
The construct I’ve been accumulating is time. I’ve taken less than one week of vacation all year.
I survived by capitalizing on long holiday weekends and traveling to nearby states. I worked from home occasionally, which felt like a holiday being in pajamas on a Tuesday.
Don’t get me wrong: I vacationed. I went to Mexico and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I spaced that trip out among the other days I used. I also took mental holidays away from the hustle of life.
I sacrificed using up my vacation time because I knew the reward of having a massive amount of vacation in the new year would be worth it.
I leave you with a staycation in North Point Park.
Travels With Alison 