I look back with great fondness on my earlier years when packing up and heading out for weeks or more was no big
deal. Now, with a full-time job and a permanent (well, semi-permanent) location to call home, it seems to be harder and
harder to get away, at least for long stretches. I wrote about the difficulties of long-term travel by Americans for
MSNBC a while back and I remain astonished that we get just two weeks vacation a year on average.
Perhaps taking off is your dream? How might you do it? Do you just need a few tips on how to get away to pack up and
head out? Well, give a read of
this article at the Chicago Trib about a couple that did get away. Not REALLY long, but longer than average. The
tips are basic — Pack the bare minimum. Eat and drink like a local. Set a budget and stick to it (sort of) — but
useful. Sensible. The piece may not get you to quit your job tomorrow, but it might inspire you to consider extending
your next trip by a week or two.