Staycation
Years ago during one of those previous recessions, someone coined a new word, “Staycation,” which meant you stayed at home and had a great time because you couldn’t afford, literally, to go anywhere.
Well, now, that word is being rehashed, but this time, you are encouraged to take a “Staycation,” because you REALLY can’t afford it. This time taking a real vacation is exhausting and dangerous. Just read the do’s and don’ts of taking a vacation.
If you fly somewhere, you are taking such a gamble, breathing others’ virus-filled, recycled air, touching an airplane seat that has not been swabbed by a forensic team, watching a movie that requires you to touch a touch screen or a remote that the cleaning crew missed when they wiped everything down with CDC approved chemicals—is LOL appropriate here.
To properly clean your personal environment on the airplane, those 17 inch wide seats, shared armrests and that generous legroom meant for children, airlines need to let passengers on very early with their blue light to check out the space. Imagine the joy of wearing a face mask on any flight. And forget using the restroom in flight that requires more cleaning. So, staycation is sounding more and more logical.
Hotel rooms have become cesspools of lingering microbes of virus on every surface. Forget it. To get that place clean is liken to cleaning your own house. Yuck! So, why bother.
Close your eyes and imagine going in a Cracker Barrel or Waffle House with a face mask and your hand in your pocket. Well, all those friendly cashiers or customers probably have 38’s or some number gun within easy reach. Ah, Club Fed, the Greybar Hotel here you come.
Just when you were talking to yourself one day, rationalizing how bad could it be to go on a real vacation, thinking those conspiracy theorists may be right. A dust storm that originated 5,000 miles away in the African Sahara desert arrives. Help! What next a plague of locusts?
Taking a “Staycation” takes imagination and planning, get out that pen and paper, hit the old internet, there are a couple million websites to aide you. You might even have an original thought.
Plan B includes learning to play three chords on the guitar, of course, after sanitizing those strings and the whole dang guitar, providing you have a guitar. Pitch a tent in the yard, sleep under the stars, don’t forget the extension cord for the pump to pump up the air mattresses, the circulating fan, a gallon of bug spray, the coffee pot, the microwave and the charger for your cellphone and computer.
Ah, Wilderness. Back to Plan A, fix a cool beverage, lie back in the recliner and watch one or more of the 235 DVR movies you have in your cache. Binge watching has become a favorite. Remember social distancing especially with your own family.
That’s, that’s, All folks! Monticello have a very Happy 4th of July.