Author Topic: 48 percent of Americans never spend a summer vacation (Read 821 times)

storch · « **Reply #15 on:** July 08, 2007, 04:10:17 PM »

I usually have a lot of discreationary time and we take many long weekends during the year but sadly the workload in my shop has been very high this year and has precluded us taking any real time off. I usually take the month of august off but this year that will not happen.

Nilsen · « **Reply #16 on:** July 08, 2007, 04:13:06 PM »

I have six weeks now that started on friday. Now im posting over wifi in a marina not far from home. Waiting for the weather to improve so we can go further up the coast.

Blooz · « **Reply #17 on:** July 08, 2007, 04:18:56 PM »

I had the month of May off but it was no vacation.

Broke a rib at work.

I haven't had a real vacation since 1996.

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #18 on:** July 08, 2007, 04:49:19 PM »

My wife goes on vacation every year.
Usually takes the kids down to the shore for a week.
I cant spend any more then 1 day at the shore and Im ready to leave.
Atually I can do all I really caere to do at the jersey shore in about 3 hours.
I walk from one end of the Boardwalk to the other.
I have myself a Hot Sausage Sandwich. 2 dozen raw Clams on the halfshell
2 slices of Pizza (Best pizza available outside of NY city)
And 3 draft beers.

OK Im ready to leave.

so needless to say I dont usually go for more then 1 night.
The wife loves it so she stays down there for the week with the kid/s
And I stay at home by myself and go to work

which in itself is like a vacation for me

We as a family were supposed to go on vacation this week but my business is simply too busy right now with 3 jobs all going on at the same time.

We were going to head up north to Boston to see the harbor and the USS Consitution. Maybe as far as Main depending on how long we took to get to Boston.
the plan was this.

Our ultimate destination was Boston. But we were going ot take out time getting there.
Instead of a set sceduale we were just going ot stop and check out anything that looked interesting along the way.
Went on a vacatrion like that once to Fla/ But took two weeks to get there.
Was the best Vacation I ever had. No plans other then the destination and anything that looked interesting inbetween.

Anyway. Thats out cause of business.
So instead when I get things more in order and can take a breather We are going ot take a long weekedn and head up to Niagra Falls.
We just dont know when yet.

I usually end up going on a vacation of sorts every other year or so.

Meatwad · « **Reply #19 on:** July 08, 2007, 04:56:35 PM »

Last vacation I took was in 2001.

Never had an interest in them after that

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #20 on:** July 08, 2007, 05:04:50 PM »

Just remembered my mother telling me that her and her brothers never went away for vacations when they were kids.

My grandparents however did at least once a year.

She told me my grandfather would say

"If you have to bring the kids along. Its not a vacation."

LOL if youve ever been on a long trip with kids you might be inclined to agree.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 08, 2007, 05:21:31 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Nilsen
Id say that would prolly be correct. I am guessin that in contruction here they have some weeks off overwork during busy seasons and then work less than normal in the slower seasons.

No, I don't believe that is the reason. I specifically said construction because that was the industry studied by the researcher.

And I've personally felt that most vacations are more stressful then any other day.

bj229r · « **Reply #22 on:** July 08, 2007, 05:39:40 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by straffo
The worse slacker I ever met where american so your comment about doing stuff is pretty funny.

Btw posting a one year old article not knowing content is either dishonnest or stupid (your take).
The CNE was a work contract like the american one but with the taxation system of our socialist paradise ( without the benefit).

How about a couple months ago? (Of course, it's a Brit paper:D )

Quote

As unemployment has a strong correlation with happiness levels, it is probably safe to conclude that jobless figures at close to 9% - the eurozone's highest - is the main reason. And unemployment remains particularly acute amongst the young, at over 20%. Small wonder, then, that so many young French people come to London to find work. This is a loss to France since many of them are highly educated.

In Britain they enjoy the flexibility and jobs that the UK labour market offers them. About 300,000 now live in Britain and France has suffered the biggest emigration since the Huguenots fled in the 16th and 17th centuries. Indeed, Mr Sarkozy came to London earlier this year appealing to these émigrés to return.

link

That aside, annual GDP growth is around 2%, corporate taxation is 33% (corporations don't PAY taxes, the public absorbs that) and government spending is nearly 55% of GDP (2005 number) (Many in our country trying to drag it the same direction, including the alleged 'conservative' Bush) link

What was the final outcome about the afore-mentioned fight to allow newer/younger workers to be fired? And does Sarkozy support it?

storch · « **Reply #23 on:** July 08, 2007, 06:06:06 PM »

lol how is it the french always get lambasted on this BBS?

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #24 on:** July 08, 2007, 06:12:15 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by storch
lol how is it the french always get lambasted on this BBS?

Cause they're..French

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #25 on:** July 08, 2007, 06:20:32 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Nilsen
Id say that would prolly be correct. I am guessin that in contruction here they have some weeks off overwork during busy seasons and then work less than normal in the slower seasons.

Thats not far from accurate. Spring, Summer, and Fall are usually my busiest seasons.
Then things tend to die out right around thanksgiving. I get a mini rush about a week before Christmas then it tends to drop off. (sometimes like a stone) untill easter. When it starts all over again.

In the busy months I am often too busy to go on vacation. and in the slow months I am often too broke to go on vacation.
But I do get time off.
Year before last was pretty bad.
Over the coarse of the winter months I was out of work a combined total of about 6 weeks. But fortunately not all at once.

Think about it. How many can afford to have 6 weeks off without pay

Im still digging myself out of that hole

bj229r · « **Reply #26 on:** July 08, 2007, 07:19:30 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by storch
lol how is it the french always get lambasted on this BBS?

Wasn't really my intent, but France IS Europe after all, and thus its model of labor/economics is the most representative. (They're SOOoo touchy:confused: )

1K3 · « **Reply #27 on:** July 08, 2007, 07:32:03 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by bj229r
Wasn't really my intent, but France IS Europe after all, and thus its model of labor/economics is the most representative. (They're SOOoo touchy:confused: )

That honor belongs to the Germans!:)

Dago · « **Reply #28 on:** July 08, 2007, 07:34:45 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by straffo
The worse slacker I ever met where american so your comment about doing stuff is pretty funny.

Most white flags are held high by Frenchmen. I guess they aren't to lazy for that.

texasmom · « **Reply #29 on:** July 08, 2007, 08:07:55 PM »

I'd love to take vacations. Between my three rowdy boys getting sick or getting into trouble, my leave time hovers around zero hours. So we take lots of little weekend trips, which is nice.

Got a vacation planned with a girlfriend for next year (whether I have leave time or not) to diamond state park ~ just her & I for a few days away from our children. AND any diamonds we find...we keep.