|
Summer 2007
There's No Place Like Home
Dear Reader:
On our last road trip, my husband David grew quiet and tense for no apparent
reason. I realized his moodiness was somehow connected to leaving home. I’d
noticed that this was his usual demeanor when we headed out on vacation. His
grumpiness lasted no more than a day and was typically gone by the time we
reached our destination.
I remembered David telling me on previous trips how homesick he felt.
Although he enjoyed the small, private space of a motel room and the idea of
exploring new places, David always looked forward to going home. Even as a
child, he once confessed to me, he never felt comfortable spending the night
with friends. He longed for the safety and security of his own bed and his
mother’s embrace when she tucked him in at night.
In contrast, I dread coming back from vacation. I’ve come to associate home
with endless work — a place of expectations for cleanliness and order,
where phone calls have to be answered and bills paid. Home is where worries
return, a place where families often gather under duress and more easily
fall apart. Home has become a place I want to leave behind.
But this summer I’m determined to reclaim leisure time at home. I’ve been
watching David water plants and turn the compost. I see him by the window
sipping his morning cup of coffee, listening to the warblers and blue jays.
His idea of a peaceful evening is taking the horses to graze in the back
field. Soaking in the bathtub is an equally pleasurable activity. His small
indulgences remind me of the simple things I can do to relax and have fun.
This summer I’ll sit in the grass and watch the sun set over the pond. I’ll
chase lightning bugs, tramp new paths through the woods and ride the horses.
I’ll turn off the telephone ringer, put away the bills and retrieve the
guides to birds and flowers from the bookcase. For a few days a month, I’ll
take a vacation right here at home.
The theme of the Summer ’07 issue of New Southerner is Green Travel. In the
Fuss section, you’ll read about vacationers who have
minimized the impact of traveling on both the planet and their pocketbooks.
You‘ll also find suggestions for nature-based family trips and planning
resources for eco-friendly travel — everything you need to plan a guilt-free
summer adventure to satisfy your wanderlust. But remember, for the vacation of a
lifetime, look no farther than your own backyard.
Bobbi Buchanan
Editor
>> top Comment? Send it to the editor. Home | Listen | Fuss | Folks & Neighborhoods | Pickin's & Fixin's Gigs & Such | Dog-Eared | Sightly | Back Porch
© 2006 Swallowtail Press
LLC |
|
