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Back in 2003, when my daughter was still in kindergarten, we took a week-long vacation to a little place called White Lake, NC. It’s a place where my wife had vacationed often as a child, and I’d been there once or twice, but as a family we hadn’t gotten into the habit of taking summer vacations. This was a new thing, and I wasn’t sure I’d like it: a week away from the comforts of home?
Strong insight. Thanks, Bart.
What a wonderful teaching, BXO! You learned such an important lesson. Opening up that space for new things will inspire other kinds of creativity, too. And I would add that it might not have been your making the same trip every year, but as you said, trying to duplicate the experience was a big part of the problem. You might have been able to go back again, but change up the things you did, the places you visited, and try new activities. Still, you are definitely on the right track and it sounds terrific!
That cracked me up after all the rest you had written.
Great post. I can identify. The urge toward the familiar is strong in me.
This is definitely true. I didn’t go into this in the post, but we actually fell into a similar trap with repeated visits to Washington, D.C. We got into the habit of always hitting the same favorites: the Air and Space Museum, the American History Museum, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial. It started to seem routine, and I even discovered that on several different visits I’d taken basically identical pictures of the same things from the same angles.
So the last time we went to D.C. we made a point of not doing anything we’d ever done before. We actually ended up not going into D.C. proper at all, but spent the whole time visiting things in some of the outlying suburbs (like Arlington Cemetery and the Air and Space Museum annex near Dulles Airport). We had a great time and didn’t miss the old favorites at all.
I’m not sure that kind of approach would work at White Lake, because there just isn’t that much to do there. But the point is valid!
I think I’m going to have to have my wife read this.
This conversation is part of our Group Writing Series on the theme of “Novel.” If you have anything novel to say on that theme, we still have four openings available in the City of November. Wouldn’t you like to sign up on our schedule and sign-up sheet right now?
Excellent! So you’re already experienced at taking new adventures. I hope you have many more family vacations that allow you to explore and learn and grow!
Have you been to the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio? It’s an easy day-long drive from where you are and the scenery is great. I think it’s even better than the Air and Space Museum – and that’s saying something cause it is really good.
And there’s lots you can combine it with depending on interests.
Nice post, Bartholomew.
Really? I’ve been under the impression that you are the one who hates to leave home.
I’m comfortable everywhere and have no routines. My wife, on the other hand, would have the same meals at breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, were she allowed. As it is, her breakfast and lunch have been the same for years.
take her out and don’t tell her where you’re going…
I may just do that tomorrow. I just have to find a restaurant where I have some options on what to eat.
That reminds me, we had Arahant Pie just the other night. That’s what we call the recipe you posted for a quiche with pepperoni and salami in a tortilla crust.
Did you enjoy it?
Insightful and important essay. Thank you BXO..
The allure of novelty is vastly underappreciated by most of us. It figures into an awful lot of our decisions, probably many more than we realize.. For instance, it drives a lot of impulse purchases. And more consequential – and often very bad – decisions as well: infidelity anyone?
Oh yeah. This is probably the third time my wife has made it.