BOOMER JOURNEYS: Downsized vacations can still mean full-sized fun

There is no equal to a fantasy vacation but if time or money is crunched this summer, making the most of existing resources can still mean a good time and a chance to unwind. 
Take a reality check before beginning.  Everyone is suffering some recession pain so don’t feel alone. 
Determine how much time and money can be spent on vacation time.  For many people, taking time off is not a reality and vacation has to be squeezed into a day or a weekend. 
Downsizing is not necessarily a bad thing.  Perhaps this is the time to change the emphasis of the family vacation from quantity to quality. 
Many people are opting for a staycation which means not leaving home at all.  Others are going with daycations, getting away for just one day. Some may be able to squeeze in a long weekend.
The basic concept of vacation time is the opportunity to get away from the normal routine.  That alone can be energizing, refreshing and relaxing.
With any good vacation or variation thereof, planning is vital.  This is the time for creativity.  Here are some options to help get you started.
Consider trading homes with good friends or relatives.  This is best done with people with whom you feel comfortable especially if they have been guests in your home or you have been guests in theirs. 
Approach this option with an open mind.  Some people may feel uncomfortable with this idea and if the answer to the suggestion is no, do not take offense. 
A variation on this is to alternate visits so that time is spent together at one home and then the other.  This is best done if both families enjoy each other’s company. It is also best if the visits are separated by a month or more. 
If pets are part of your family, accomodations must be made from them.  Never take your beloved pets to someone else’s home unless you are prepared to pay for any damages your pet may cause.  Fluffy and Fido may behave perfectly at home but unfamiliar surroundings and people may stress them into bad behavior. 
Traveling a short distance makes daycations possible.  Plan on a destination reachable in 3 hours or less.  If more time is spent traveling than enjoying, it won’t feel like much of a vacation. 
Daycations should only include one or two activities.  This could include an amusement park, zoo, museum or other attraction which takes a day to fully explore.  Daycations work best if you either spend the night before or after your day of activities. 
Staycation is often the most logical of options.  The trick to making the most of a staycation is to treat yourself as a guest and to act like a guest in a friend’s home even when you are in your own residence. 
Become a tourist in your own town.  Get brochures and plan a day of activities as if you were visiting.  To get the full experience, eat all three meals out.  Leave early and return home after a full day.
Do not go to places you normally visit.  This is a time for something out of the ordinary – including restaurants.  Since you are local, you may be able to find coupons or discounts more easily by searching your paper, internet or brochures. 
If you have a family or a group of friends for vacation activities, a staycation can be entertaining and exciting.  Have each person plan an activity and meal for each day. 
Mix things up.  Eat or sleep in a different room.  Dress up or down whichever is different from your normal routine.  Have dinner for breakfast and breakfast for dinner.  See how many ways you can make the ordinary routine extraordinary.
Make the decision to get over your disappointment.  If you focus on what you can’t do this summer, nothing you do instead will give you much pleasure. 
Make an attitude adjustment to the positive.  Find your creative side (or borrow from a book or video).  Decide on making the most of the time available and any variation on the vacation can be delightfully memorable.