For the past three weeks, I’ve been on vacation, visiting distant lands as a tourist. “Tourism” is not a word that evokes much in meaningful accomplishment. Superficial journeys without purpose but to get a brief glimpse of foreign places rarely provide profound insights. And when you do this on a cruise ship with around 1,000 other passengers, perceptions are shaped by the tourist trap economy; hardly an accurate perception of local culture and values.
And, of course, during this time, I didn’t do much work or thinking about construction marketing. (The Internet, of course, allowed me to communicate — even in the middle of the Baltic Sea — with the home office for crucial matters, even as I minimized any obligations or responsibilities.)
So, in essence, I spent a fair sum of money for a set of quick images and experiences (and travel services) for little meaningful growth, and this blog remained dormant while I was away.
Do I regret the expense/experience? Not at all. And there are some simple reasons.
As we travelled, (or perhaps I should say touristed), the first Canadian Pension Plan/Old Age Security payments plopped into my bank account (roughly similar to US Social Security). So I could rightfully take this as a kind of retirement vacation — though I have no plans to retire at least for a few years.
As well, while I describe the experience as superficial, I still sought to learn/understand the distinctions of the various countries and their histories, and this knowledge helps me to fill in gaps in my understandings of world/current affairs. (The trip included visits to Russia, Estonia, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and the UK, as well as some days in Portugal.)
Finally, of course, a good vacation can recharge the batteries. After I’m reacclimatized today, I’ll resume the regular blogging schedule (and construction marketing content) tomorrow. It’s time to return to work
Did you enjoy this article?
