You ever just take a break?

[Dewey]

It feels weird to say it but I'm in Colorado right now on honestly the first vacation of my life, and getting paid for it. It feels a little weird if I'm being honest; coming from the restaurant industry I never thought I'd be able to do something like this. On top of that I fixed what ended up being the biggest relationship fuck up of my life this week, so that's been nice.

Here's some cool shit that I've seen while I've been here, some dinner I made, and a selfie I took where I was certainly too hungover to feel like the winner the mirror said I was. I hope everyone else has gotten to have this kind of wave of relief come over them as we've grown up, and I'd love to hear about your first real break if you wanna share!

 

[Crystal]

Sounds like you're having a great time, that's fantastic! Keep on enjoying it!

No breaks here, not really been able to afford a break at any point. Well, unless you count mental breaks, had a lot of those

 

[Boots]

Nice, good for you. Glad to see you enjoying my state. I'm going to a concert at Meow Wolf in October, but I've been meaning to go check out the art there for years now. Might wait until some friends come into town who want to try edibles for the first time.

As for that level of relief, the wave is still washing over me. In 2017 I ended a 10+ year relationship that was very unhealthy especially at the end. I took on a lot of debt thanks to the ex. 2018 was less of a struggle financially, but I was still climbing out of debt. My boyfriend moved in from across the country but he was unemployed for that first year. We got by but no vacations or big spends. By the end of 2019 things started falling into place financially. He got a good job and I paid off the last of my debt aside from my low interest car payment. Things got way better in 2020 and 2021 as he earned big raises and a promotion. We got engaged last year, with a ring way nice than what I ever expected to have on my finger. Life is comfortable, and after so many years struggling separately it's bizarre to finally be in the right place. I definitely understand that feeling of relief you're talking about. We save a bunch of money, but we can still can afford to go in vacations, treat friends to dinner, drop hundreds on hobbies, and not have to worry about living paycheck to paycheck. I only wish he had more vacation days.

 

[Crystal]

We save a bunch of money, but we can still can afford to go in vacations, treat friends to dinner, drop hundreds on hobbies, and not have to worry about living paycheck to paycheck. I only wish he had more vacation days.

That's an incredible place to be, I look forward to the day I can say I'm in a similar spot. Enjoy that wave, save all you can, just be happy. That's all you can ask for in life, so congrats on getting there

 

[Dewey]

Sounds like you're having a great time, that's fantastic! Keep on enjoying it!

No breaks here, not really been able to afford a break at any point. Well, unless you count mental breaks, had a lot of those

Thank you! I can't wait to hear about the adventure you have when you finally get the break you deserve

Nice, good for you. Glad to see you enjoying my state. I'm going to a concert at Meow Wolf in October, but I've been meaning to go check out the art there for years now. Might wait until some friends come into town who want to try edibles for the first time.

As for that level of relief, the wave is still washing over me. In 2017 I ended a 10+ year relationship that was very unhealthy especially at the end. I took on a lot of debt thanks to the ex. 2018 was less of a struggle financially, but I was still climbing out of debt. My boyfriend moved in from across the country but he was unemployed for that first year. We got by but no vacations or big spends. By the end of 2019 things started falling into place financially. He got a good job and I paid off the last of my debt aside from my low interest car payment. Things got way better in 2020 and 2021 as he earned big raises and a promotion. We got engaged last year, with a ring way nice than what I ever expected to have on my finger. Life is comfortable, and after so many years struggling separately it's bizarre to finally be in the right place. I definitely understand that feeling of relief you're talking about. We save a bunch of money, but we can still can afford to go in vacations, treat friends to dinner, drop hundreds on hobbies, and not have to worry about living paycheck to paycheck. I only wish he had more vacation days.

Honestly every time I come here it's just the best. I was hitching from New York to Oregon a few years back and I ended up spending a BUNCH of time in Fraser and fell in love. Then we caught ween at Red Rocks back in 2018. This time around my girlfriend is starting her internship for her doctorate so I came out to help her get moved and settled while I make the tech moves in New York to just work remote and go wherever she's gotta go for work.

I can't even begin to tell you how fuckin cool Meow Wolf was. My only downside for it was a lot of my friends have moved out of Denver so I'm not sure where the fun guys are at anymore lmao

 

[Smacktard]

I've lived abroad every year since finishing uni. My first year I was pretty broke so I couldn't afford to travel too much. I did anyway (mostly budget places), and the rest of my life suffered as a result, and I took on some debt. The shit hole I was living in in England was something like 130 pounds a MONTH. Yikes.

After that first year, I found better work, and every year since then I've been in a better position to travel. I live in Saudi now where life is boring and there's little to do, so I live a pretty spartan lifestyle until it's time to travel again and then I go somewhere new. I'm up to around 70 countries visited at this point.

I did the hostelling thing in my youth, but I'm at the point where I'd rather stay in my own room. I see the things I want to see, go to the places I want to go, and spend however much I want on a meal.

 

[Friel]

I get two weeks off in the summer so I always like to try and get away somewhere foreign on a relaxing holiday.

Been in loads of places so far, but that was mostly when it was just me and my girlfriend. We always liked travelling. But now that the little dude has come along, we mostly just head to Portugal in the summer. It's not as relaxing anymore, because I'm constantly worried that he's gonna get sunburnt or drown in the pool, but it's still a break from work.

If I didn't take those 2 weeks in the summer and the week at Christmas to reset, I'd have a mental breakdown. Work is too intense not to take time to yourself.

 

[Crystal]

I'm up to around 70 countries visited at this point.

Wow, incredible! What have been the highlights for you?

But now that the little dude has come along, we mostly just head to Portugal in the summer. It's not as relaxing anymore, because I'm constantly worried that he's gonna get sunburnt or drown in the pool, but it's still a break from work.

Just wait until he's old enough where you don't have to worry, then you'll worry about not worrying

 

[Smacktard]

Wow, incredible! What have been the highlights for you?

I've had some pretty wild experiences. I've summitted Kilimanjaro, rode the Iron Ore Train across Mauritania, spent a summer hiking across Spain, found human remains in Aokighara and led a local forensics team back to them, scammed a scammer in Morocco, saw cock fights in East Timor.

I think one of my favorite experiences was hiking hours through the desert in Saudi to arrive at huge ancient ruins I discovered by scouring satellite images in Google maps, and which had been left undisturbed for thousands of years, seeing the traces of civilization that used to inhabit the area when it was a fertile green hunting land, and then hiking back through the pitch black under a cloudless night sky full of stars.

 

[Crystal]

I've had some pretty wild experiences. I've summitted Kilimanjaro, rode the Iron Ore Train across Mauritania, spent a summer hiking across Spain, found human remains in Aokighara and led a local forensics team back to them, scammed a scammer in Morocco, saw cock fights in East Timor.

I think one of my favorite experiences was hiking hours through the desert in Saudi to arrive at huge ancient ruins I discovered by scouring satellite images in Google maps, and which had been left undisturbed for thousands of years, seeing the traces of civilization that used to inhabit the area when it was a fertile green hunting land, and then hiking back through the pitch black under a cloudless night sky full of stars.

Damn, now that's how you live life to the fullest. Very nice!

 

[Kat]

I'm currently on a two week unpaid break from work. I haven't traveled anywhere exotic (it feels like a waste to leave Oregon in the summer when it's most pleasant), but having so much time that I can spend however I want and not having to think about work has been such a relief.

Today I visited a once-bustling mall I frequented 15 years ago and is now a sad and desolate place. I'm talking a total of half a dozen cars in the parking garage, at least one entrance was boarded up, escalators were broken, 90% of the shops were vacant, and there was exactly one place to eat in the food court. And the ice skating rink had no ice in it!! It was still better than working.

If you're wondering why I was there at all, we were going to see a movie in an IMAX theater and thought the closest one was in the mall. It turned out to actually be across the street, so the mall doesn't even have that going for it.

Tomorrow I'm going to bake some delicious chocolate cookies.

 

[Boots]

What movie did you see?

 

[Kat]

What movie did you see?

Oppenheimer. Yeah, it was a theme of depression yesterday.

 

[The Eye in the Sky!]

I wish I could take a break. Everyone I know (besides maybe two people) were out of work for Covid for 6+ months and got to collect extra unemployment checks, make bread, go to the beach while I took a 25% pay-cut and stayed on in my company to create a new source of revenue so we didn't close shop... ever since then we've been busy and bringing back our regular work. It feels like it's been 3 years of non-stop work... the few vacations I've taken have been family trips that have been about making sure the kids have fun. I haven't taken time for myself in a very long time.

It's benefited my career, but I'm so tired all the time...

 

[Markumas]

It feels good to get paid to not work. Took the family to Corfu last year. It was horrible. The wife nearly drowned. There were wasps everywhere and I’m convinced I got covid. 0/10 would not return.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

I take a break every time I'm not at work. Sure, it means I don't have the cleanest home, but I'm relaxed within.

I did take a week off back in April solely just so I wasn't at work. Every other time I take time off, I'm going somewhere, but in April, I needed a week to just stay at home and unwind.

 

[Quagmire]

Vacations are great and always needed. I take random mental health days as teaching wears on me even if I enjoy it. Im lucky in that one of my perks is lots of time off

Getting a cabin with friends over labor day, can't wait, kid free adult fun!

the few vacations I've taken have been family trips that have been about making sure the kids have fun. I haven't taken time for myself in a very long time.

It's benefited my career, but I'm so tired all the time...

This was my dad, its part of the reason we only had one, I wanted to make sure we could afford to do things we like to do and the kid. Be sure to take some time for yourself, even if its just a random day off while the kids are at school, it will also help your kids have more fun if you're more recharged. Granted I dont know how hard it would be for you to just take a day

The weirdest feelin

It feels weird to say it but I'm in Colorado right now on honestly the first vacation of my life, and getting paid for it. It feels a little weird if I'm being honest; coming from the restaurant industry I never thought I'd be able to do something like this.

Sort of similar, once I finished with school, I didn't know what to do with my "free" time, it felt so weird to only have work and not homework, studying or required reading