Did you know that you don’t have to leave your own hometown in order to have a fun and exciting time? The best part is, that you can go back home when you need to and kick your feet back and enjoy a cup of coffee or ice-tea. When you feel refreshed, you can simply go back and finish your adventure.
I get that there are area’s that don’t have a lot to offer. That’s ok. It’s about making the most of what’s available. Sort of like “bloom where you are planted” so to speak. Now, I hadn’t thought of writing this, but a few people suggested I do so, so here I am.
This last week was Memorial Day weekend, and we had some out-of-town family that came up for a visit. We had just finished with graduation a week prior, so I wasn’t feeling up to a whole lot. I had things on my to do list that didn’t get done. You know what? We all lived without it too. That was one thing I needed to adjust to, it’s ok to not get everything done that you want to do.
Anyway, my family come from a larger area where there is plenty of things to do. I live in a small farm and ranch community where the options are limited. However, we did find one thing everyone got involved in.
Geo caching. Recently my community put around town about ten different geo caches. I had never really heard about them until they advertised it, and my family thought it would be fun to do. I have to admit, they were right. It was a blast! The best part is, we even involved the “easy chair” committee. AKA my mom, my aunt and uncle who stayed at the house, relaxing in their easy chairs.
We started out with the first one. We read the clue and easy enough, found the second. It was on the third one we got stumped on and couldn’t find. So, then that’s where the easy chair committee came in. Stumped on the location, because by then we had tried probably three locations, we called for help. “Mom, can you help us with this clue?” My cousin read the clue aloud and the rest of the group at home put their thinking caps on and gave it a whirl. They had just as much fun at the house as we did out exploring.
I am not sure as to how long it took us to get all ten found, I would roughly say about an hour and a half or so. Then, after all the jumping in and out of the car and the last one was located, we went to the theatre and enjoyed the new Lilo and Stitch movie.
It was a fun day, and even though it was a lot of movement initially, we ended the time by relaxing at the theatre. We got our popcorn and drinks and just rested. Then after the movie went back to the house and relaxed some more, the kids outside playing and the adults reliving the adventure we had both in the car and in the easy chair.
So what I am saying is, find what there is to do within your community. Just because it might be small doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to do. Go to the park and have a picnic. (For those of us with immune deficiencies, there isn’t a huge crowd usually). Growing up as a teenager, I lived in a smaller community than where I am now, and I tell you, my friends and I had a blast. We would go to the school and swing on the swing set, go for walks in the canal when it was empty. We even swam in the same canal in the summer. Had campouts in the back yard…
Life is a journey and it’s up to us to make the most of it. Do things that involve others, like my cousins and I did for our parents who didn’t want to go out. It can be done, and everyone can have a good time. Another idea is to play a game or two. We have done that in the past and always have fun.
Stay-cations can be eventful and fun. You don’t have to travel extensively for it; it doesn’t cost near as much money. And the best part: you can sleep in your own comfortable bed.
If you have any other tips on staycations or experiences, I’d love to hear them. Leave a comment below!
