Ten Days Vacation? Every Month? (I Wish!)

I get this question all the time.

Last week, I met with the GC on one of our projects.

"I wish I could take ten days off every month," he said.

"Me too!" I said.

He looked confused.

"What do you mean? Don't you?"

Umm, no.

There's some confusion when people hear me say that I try to travel for ten days every month.

Vacation does not require travel, and not all travel is vacation.

See this calendar?

It's my travel calendar.

Some of it is a proper vacation. Next month, I plan to hike the Art Loeb trail in Western NC. That'll take three days, and I won't do anything other than hike and relax for those days.

That's vacation.

But look at this weekend.

There's a full moon, and I intend to see it up close and personal. So, Friday, I'm heading to the hills.

I've got a little project to take care of near Morganton, putting some finish on the front porch of the permanently installed tent on that property, so that's where I'll go first. Since I'm there, and the views are epic, I'll set up shop under the awning of my truck, which'll be my office for the day.

I'll probably spend the night there.

But maybe I'll drive over to Linville Gorge. I would go to Wilson Creek, but this isn't a vacation, and I need an internet signal.

Either way, Saturday morning's office will be back under the awning with a great view.

Unless it rains, then I'll be in the back of the truck. In any case, I'll be camping again Saturday night.

Sunday is primarily a day off, so I'm hooking up with my buddy Ken for long-overdue trail riding.

I may camp again Sunday night, or I may come.

Either way, while traveling, I will have gotten my work done. And at minimal expense - the only cost differential will be a tank or two of gas.

The reality of my job(s) is that I need a couple of days in the field each week, and the rest of the time I spend in the office.

If Ten-Ten-Ten succeeds in nine more years, I can vacation ten days every month.

But, I've fixed it for now so I can work from anywhere I'd like.

That means I can travel.

And I'd be crazy if I didn't take advantage of that opportunity.