The staycation is in – again... in 2011 as well
by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
This, indeed, has to be good news for the garden retail sector but not only the gardening retail sector. It also is good news for the Planet and the local economy, whether in the locality where people live or the locality in the home country where they take their vacation.
Maybe, just maybe, we may even get back to the holiday camps – Butlins Mark II – and the caravans by the seaside or in great locations in the countryside as getaway.
The static caravan on holiday caravan sites by the seaside (or elsewhere) was common in Britain before the advent of the cheap package holidays to places such as the South of France and the Costas.
After that that way of holidaying went out of the window and up in aviation exhaust fumes with thousands of Brits winding their way to destinations at the Spanish Mediterranean coast, on the Balearic Island and the Canary Islands.
They did not, however, go to soak up the local atmosphere. They turned the areas into little Britain and demanded that they had all what they knew from home. So why go abroad. Just to have Britain in the sun?
The Great Recession and now the increase in costs of travel, whether by plane or car, is making holidaying at home look much more the option, and it is a much better option, especially when the holiday location is you own garden. Saves lots of money and is good for your nerves and pocket and great for the Planet.
I must say that when I see the great homes and gardens that so many people have, with the patio having been turned into an outdoor room, basically, with cooking facilities, etc., and also, often, a summerhouse in the garden and such, I have always wondered why those people would go through the torture of airport chaos and travel and all that just to spend a week or so in places where they then complain about the heat, the quality or lack of it of the drinking water, and whatever else.
AS far as I am concerned, and the Planet, vacationing at home beats everything. You don't have the stress of traveling to the airport, the worry as to whether you have turned the cooker off, etc., the worry as to whether you come home and find that you have been burgled, and such. You are at home and have time to relax there. As long as you are prepared to turn your cell phone (the work one) off and leave work emails out as well.
If you want to splash out on your staycation then explore your own county and country, and countryside. Most people have been to the gods only know where in the world but have no idea of the interesting things in their neighborhood. England, for example, is full of history, culture and great countryside. Let's explore that before we go to Costa del Britain in Spain.
© 2011
