I Really Need A Vacation This Summer
 

Not a big deal, but I'm just tired. Been working hard and last real vacation, where wasn't working on the laptop for whole market day, was 2+ years ago. Over the winter I was really focused, made some big bets that worked, now I feel dull and haven't come up w/ any new big bets with conviction. I have work I need to do, data and trends and bets to figure out, and I am having a really hard time making myself do it. I need to do something over the summer to recharge. Sorry, just grumpy.

Yes, I feel your pain. I don't have a stressful job, however I too need to get away from it all for a while.

Two years ago we rented a C class motorhome for a long weekend only and I really enjoyed it. Last year we had booked a cabin for a weeks' vacation but had to cancel it because my wifes' dad and step mom came to visit at that time. Most of my vacations are STAY-cations to accomodate visiting family. That's because we live where others want to visit. This year I bought a truck which will allow us to get away with our "zoo" (two dogs and a parrot); wether I pull a trailer or get out to a rented cabin. I do have a 30 year class reunion planned for the week end of July 18th in the neighbouring province. We were going to take two weeks and pull a trailer to that and carry on from there. Now my wife started a new job but she can at least get the two days on either side of that week end. We'll get away Thur-Tue at least. I may have to take lots of extended weekend vacations and get away withing a days' drive. I could even set up at a not-to-far provincial campground for a week and the wife could drive out at the end of her work day. I'm going to have to be creative.

Jyl, you don't need to go far. It just has to be a change of place and routine. Here's to wishing you a really good summer!

Hey, I see you live in BC. Can I ask a question -

We have a little camper (VW Vanagon Westy) and we've thought about, sometime in June, driving up to Seattle, taking the ferry to Vancouver BC, then finding some camping spots around Vancouver Island. Probably spend a week. I lived in Vancouver (the city) for a couple years as a kid, but never really explored the surrounding area including Vancouver Island.

Do you have any tips or favorite camping spots in the area? Not looking for much in the way of "facilities" or "activities", more for scenery, solitude, etc.

Need an assistant? I'd love to come learn from you:) I'll come cheap too.

It is a tough place to be making big bets right now. At least that is how I feel. Don't really have conviction to follow the March Bull Market, don't have conviction to go short with all the stimulus going into the economy. Stuck in la la land. Just been selling calls against stuff I got long on the way down.

Get out enjoy some summertime weather, drive the 911, and recharge the brain.

I have 2 weeks to go until level 2 of the CFA exam, after that I need a nice mind chill. Like rebuilding my engine, I hope.

I am heading out for 17 days tomorrow with the family.

Can't wait for the time off. I just have to avoid turning on the cell phone and laptop - too much.

Unfortunately I am the boss so a little time each day will be required.

Every year we go down to Seaside Florida and do as little as possible.

Well that's the problem, I haven't done much camping but I want to. Usually though, the nicest camp sites by far are the Provincial camp grounds. The little camping we did do was on the mainland. Here's a link to the Provincial parks site.
http://www.discovercamping.ca/default.aspx

Well, that's the problem; we really didn't do a lot of camping but the little we did do was on the mainland; Golden Ears, Manning, Pemberton (Nairn Falls). The Provincial parks are by the far the best campgrounds going. Here's a link to them http://www.discovercamping.ca/default.aspx Hope that helps.

Oops, I had an error message and didn't think my initial reply made it.

Henri - Thanks for the link, I will check it out.

Randy - 17 days, very nice. Sounds great,

Rich - level 2 is the hardest IMO, so you'll deserve a beer or three afterwards. Level 3 is the weirdest, but not the hardest. On market, yeah, a bunch of stuff I bought earlier this year is up 50-100% in a couple months so need a bunch of new stuff, and that's the rub isn't it. I think investors are still underweight equities and their macro outlook is improving, all the macro charts are bottoming out or starting to rebound, so think is an underlying bid, but everyone's afraid of being a sucker and praying for a pullback. When in doubt, I figure market usually does what will cause the most pain to the most players.

Agreed. Stay-vacations just don't work for me. Last summer that is what we did & of course I was answering email throughout.

We leave tomorrow. By Saturday afternoon, I will be lounging in some piazza in Rome, sipping wine. No phone. No email. No customers.

Then on Wednesday we hop to Sicily for a rental car & some Sicilian Road Madness for 13 days. I can't wait. I (make that we) need it.

Ian

i think in the past 3 years, i have taken a total of 10 days off. 5 of those vacation days, i was sick with bronchitis, the other 5 i spent with a woman that nagged me to death

i feel like im going to die. some days im to the point where i would prefer to be homeless eating out of a dumpster

other days, im just thankful i have a job to pay my bills

most days, when i get in my 911 after work, for a fleeting moment, im happy

Well, my reality is: I shouldn't be spending the money. Business is weak to non-existant. The company I work for is well-funded but there are limits . . .

I booked a lot of it 11 months ago - before the economy hit the wall in the fall. Frequent flyer miles paid for the airfare (except the Sicily in/out) & Hilton Honors is picking up the hotel bill in Rome & Palermo at the other end of Sicily for a total of 7 nights. Of course, I earned those miles by traveling too damn much for work.

My boss is going to Sicily a month later, so he can't complain too much.

Ian

I visited V Isl once w/bride w/ tour group. It's almost too small for heavy summer tourist season. Most of the tourists hang close to the city but it does get interesting the farther away you go.

I've done a bit of camping so was also interested in info on the Isl from the natives.

What I came up with is that the deep forest is real nice. Many bears but not a big deal if you keep away from backpacking. An adequate gun is not a bad idea.

So.. If I had to start somewhere I'd go straight to "Clayoquot Arm Provincial Park" for at least a couple of days. Once there I'd be able to talk to locals to find the next camp.

Guns & Canada don't mix well, as you probably know. Especially in Provincial Parks:

"No person shall possess or discharge a firearm, bows or crossbows in a park or recreation area except during an open season as specified under the "Wildlife Act" or as authorized."

From: BC Parks

Ian

Advice from a fellow Westy owner: take the Westy out to Point Reyes on Saturday and have a picnic. (Are you in Berkeley or Oregon right now? I can't be sure.) Little trips like that always tide me over very nicely. Just driving the slow Westy with some good tunes always soothes me.

Wife left over the winter. Now a single Dad trying to get the house and life back in order. I'm an independent contracter with no paid time off. But do I need some.