Comments on: vacation for 1, please http://www.sixthman.net/blog/2009/06/26/vacation-for-1-please/ Live Loud Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:20:56 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Erica http://www.sixthman.net/blog/2009/06/26/vacation-for-1-please/comment-page-1/#comment-1546 Erica Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:53:54 +0000 http://www.sixthman.net/blog/?p=2225#comment-1546 I'm a travel addict, and the one solo trip I've taken is right up there in the top 5 things I've done in life. I spent 11 days on a cross country road trip (Indianapolis to San Diego and back). It was just me and my dog, and the only thing I wish I'd done differently is allotted more time to sightsee. (6,300 miles is a lot to drive in 11 days by yourself!) I probably would have kept a journal of my experiences too. I did actually update a blog regularly with the day's adventures and a few pictures thrown in...family, friends and coworkers followed it throughout the trip and made comments, so I didn't feel entirely disconnected. But it was actually nice to not speak to a anyone at all for an entire day and just be alone with my thoughts. And it is so nice to be on your own schedule and do what you want to do when you want to do it! I’m a travel addict, and the one solo trip I’ve taken is right up there in the top 5 things I’ve done in life. I spent 11 days on a cross country road trip (Indianapolis to San Diego and back). It was just me and my dog, and the only thing I wish I’d done differently is allotted more time to sightsee. (6,300 miles is a lot to drive in 11 days by yourself!) I probably would have kept a journal of my experiences too.

I did actually update a blog regularly with the day’s adventures and a few pictures thrown in…family, friends and coworkers followed it throughout the trip and made comments, so I didn’t feel entirely disconnected. But it was actually nice to not speak to a anyone at all for an entire day and just be alone with my thoughts. And it is so nice to be on your own schedule and do what you want to do when you want to do it!

]]> By: Annette http://www.sixthman.net/blog/2009/06/26/vacation-for-1-please/comment-page-1/#comment-1545 Annette Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:54:40 +0000 http://www.sixthman.net/blog/?p=2225#comment-1545 I love traveling alone! After TRB this year I spent 8 days in Italy. I stayed with a friend who lives there, so it wasn't totally alone, but had alone time in Rome while she was in school in Florence, as well as alone time while she was in class when I was in Florence. Even the travel to and from Europe alone was a blast! I try to take a trip with lots of alone time for my birthday every year. Typically, I try to get to Disneyland and the beach. Fun places to be alone if you love people watching! I think at first you enjoy the alone time. Then you start thinking about other people, and wondering if you should be making more connections with other people. Then you start to think about what you truly want, without worrying about the influences of others. For me, a vacation alone is a chance to refresh and think about what you want and who you are, with no need to make concessions to others to help you out. I take mini "vacations" at home in which I don't speak to anyone for a few days, just to get my brain re-centered, and have a reset on my wants/needs/desires; it's just how I ensure others aren't affecting my happiness, since I'm very happy as long as I don't let others keep me from being happy! I love traveling alone! After TRB this year I spent 8 days in Italy. I stayed with a friend who lives there, so it wasn’t totally alone, but had alone time in Rome while she was in school in Florence, as well as alone time while she was in class when I was in Florence. Even the travel to and from Europe alone was a blast!
I try to take a trip with lots of alone time for my birthday every year. Typically, I try to get to Disneyland and the beach. Fun places to be alone if you love people watching!

I think at first you enjoy the alone time. Then you start thinking about other people, and wondering if you should be making more connections with other people. Then you start to think about what you truly want, without worrying about the influences of others. For me, a vacation alone is a chance to refresh and think about what you want and who you are, with no need to make concessions to others to help you out. I take mini “vacations” at home in which I don’t speak to anyone for a few days, just to get my brain re-centered, and have a reset on my wants/needs/desires; it’s just how I ensure others aren’t affecting my happiness, since I’m very happy as long as I don’t let others keep me from being happy!

]]> By: tiffers http://www.sixthman.net/blog/2009/06/26/vacation-for-1-please/comment-page-1/#comment-1544 tiffers Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:31:36 +0000 http://www.sixthman.net/blog/?p=2225#comment-1544 ummmm...i think I'm going to be selfish and say WE should go somehwere...I don't get to see you enough! Love you ummmm…i think I’m going to be selfish and say WE should go somehwere…I don’t get to see you enough! Love you

]]> By: glitzcity http://www.sixthman.net/blog/2009/06/26/vacation-for-1-please/comment-page-1/#comment-1543 glitzcity Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:51:18 +0000 http://www.sixthman.net/blog/?p=2225#comment-1543 Travelling alone, hmmm... something I've had to do since my divorce. I'm a woman, so, it's a little different but the "lonely" and the "me, myself and I" aspects of it are the same. Bottom line, I go places I'm curious about, make sure I stay somewhere I'll be missed if I fall off a mountain ( good hotel or eco resort with a friendly staff) where I can join in something local if I want to --- music festival, Habitat for America project, cook-off, whatever --- AND I make sure I'm in a social mood so I am up for talking to strangers without coming off desperate for companionship. Otherwise, if I just need to get away to work stuff out in my head or if I need a spiritual hit, I go to an ashram or monastary someplace gorgeous --- like Tasahara in Big Sur California. Usually, for the price of working in the garden you can stay a few days in paradise and get your head straight. Hope this helps. Travelling alone, hmmm… something I’ve had to do since my divorce. I’m a woman, so, it’s a little different but the “lonely” and the “me, myself and I” aspects of it are the same. Bottom line, I go places I’m curious about, make sure I stay somewhere I’ll be missed if I fall off a mountain ( good hotel or eco resort with a friendly staff) where I can join in something local if I want to — music festival, Habitat for America project, cook-off, whatever — AND I make sure I’m in a social mood so I am up for talking to strangers without coming off desperate for companionship.

Otherwise, if I just need to get away to work stuff out in my head or if I need a spiritual hit, I go to an ashram or monastary someplace gorgeous — like Tasahara in Big Sur California. Usually, for the price of working in the garden you can stay a few days in paradise and get your head straight.

Hope this helps.

]]> By: Schmidty http://www.sixthman.net/blog/2009/06/26/vacation-for-1-please/comment-page-1/#comment-1542 Schmidty Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:38:38 +0000 http://www.sixthman.net/blog/?p=2225#comment-1542 my favorite website: http://www.virtualtourist.com/ my favorite website:

http://www.virtualtourist.com/

]]> By: barbekresla http://www.sixthman.net/blog/2009/06/26/vacation-for-1-please/comment-page-1/#comment-1541 barbekresla Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:32:04 +0000 http://www.sixthman.net/blog/?p=2225#comment-1541 I see that there's already lots of great advice posted. I find that I talk to more people when I travel by myself. There's alone-alone and then there's not-traveling-with-family/friends. Joining up with a like-minded group means you'll make friends (I highly recommend a Sixthman cruise for this...oh wait, you've got that one down). I'm not one for motivational books, but do recommend an e-book called Evolution Through Vacation that encourages self-analysis while traveling: http://evolutionthroughvacation.com/ I see that there’s already lots of great advice posted. I find that I talk to more people when I travel by myself.
There’s alone-alone and then there’s not-traveling-with-family/friends. Joining up with a like-minded group means you’ll make friends (I highly recommend a Sixthman cruise for this…oh wait, you’ve got that one down).

I’m not one for motivational books, but do recommend an e-book called Evolution Through Vacation that encourages self-analysis while traveling: http://evolutionthroughvacation.com/

]]> By: Sherri http://www.sixthman.net/blog/2009/06/26/vacation-for-1-please/comment-page-1/#comment-1540 Sherri Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:48:10 +0000 http://www.sixthman.net/blog/?p=2225#comment-1540 I had two glorious weeks at the beach by myself and it honestly changed my life. I had never taken two consecutive weeks off before and it rocked! You spend the first week getting relaxed and the second week being relaxed. I can't think of anyother way to do it now. I'll be taking two weeks again this fall on the beach--alone. Reading, cooking, biking, napping, etc. take up every minute. Throw some DVD's in there and what more could you ask for? I do take my two dogs. Does that still count as alone? ;-) I had two glorious weeks at the beach by myself and it honestly changed my life. I had never taken two consecutive weeks off before and it rocked! You spend the first week getting relaxed and the second week being relaxed. I can’t think of anyother way to do it now. I’ll be taking two weeks again this fall on the beach–alone. Reading, cooking, biking, napping, etc. take up every minute. Throw some DVD’s in there and what more could you ask for? I do take my two dogs. Does that still count as alone? ;-)

]]> By: ruddy http://www.sixthman.net/blog/2009/06/26/vacation-for-1-please/comment-page-1/#comment-1539 ruddy Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:32:03 +0000 http://www.sixthman.net/blog/?p=2225#comment-1539 If you live by yourself you can probably figure out if you like being alone If you live by yourself you can probably figure out if you like being alone

]]> By: april http://www.sixthman.net/blog/2009/06/26/vacation-for-1-please/comment-page-1/#comment-1538 april Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:56:27 +0000 http://www.sixthman.net/blog/?p=2225#comment-1538 oh my goodness! i am overwhelmed by all of your responses, i think im actually getting emotional! :) keep the thoughts coming my way, and i will absolutely update all of you when i decide where - when - and how im going to travel this time around. but from all the advice, i'm definitely leaning toward some sort of solo experience!!! you guys are the BEST! oh my goodness! i am overwhelmed by all of your responses, i think im actually getting emotional! :)

keep the thoughts coming my way, and i will absolutely update all of you when i decide where – when – and how im going to travel this time around.

but from all the advice, i’m definitely leaning toward some sort of solo experience!!!

you guys are the BEST!

]]> By: Donna http://www.sixthman.net/blog/2009/06/26/vacation-for-1-please/comment-page-1/#comment-1537 Donna Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:41:34 +0000 http://www.sixthman.net/blog/?p=2225#comment-1537 The ventures on my own have been some of my favorites. While my husband and daughter mean the world to me, the solo vacation is a wonderful thing. Just a suggestion, take it for what it's worth, don't have your cell phone on the whole time. Take some down time and rejuvinate. Relax and enjoy the peacefulness in whatever you decide to do for your vacation. Then, return with a refreshed, uplifted spirit. Enjoy. The ventures on my own have been some of my favorites. While my husband and daughter mean the world to me, the solo vacation is a wonderful thing.
Just a suggestion, take it for what it’s worth, don’t have your cell phone on the whole time. Take some down time and rejuvinate. Relax and enjoy the peacefulness in whatever you decide to do for your vacation. Then, return with a refreshed, uplifted spirit.
Enjoy.

]]>