Traveling vs Vacationing
“Isn't your whole life a vacation?”
This is what another creator said to me after I posted an Instagram story about how I was opting out of Christmas for a much needed solo vacation to Key Largo, Florida. Now coming from anyone else? I would have understood this sentiment. Another creator? Honestly I figured he would get it, but I guess not.
Yes, I travel a lot. In the last two years I logged a minimum of 98,000 miles flown with Delta alone. That’s not counting road trips and such. And all of these are for videos.
Videos, as in work. You know my job?
Hence why I made the note of this feeling a little irksome coming from another creator. Surely he knows the work that goes into making a video, even if he doesn't make the same event content I do.
When I am traveling for work, it is 90% of the time for an event I am reviewing. Yes, I am normally staying in a hotel or motel in a place I don’t live, but that's the only “vacation” element. I usually log about 15,000 to 20,000 steps these days and am up at said events from opening to close to make sure I don’t miss anything. Interacting with countless people is also pretty mentally draining on top of the physical taxation. I travel alone and work alone most of the time.
Don’t get me wrong, I have the coolest job in the world. I get to be nosey for a living, but it can be draining.
This is work travel, but it is still traveling.
I am definitely a traveler. I love going to new places, trying new foods, going to tourist spots or local hidden gems. I like to wake up early to make sure I don't waste any valuable activity time.
On occasion though, I need a vacation.
A vacationer has no schedule. No getting up early, no stuffing the day with stops and activities. Just spending time relaxing on the beach or in the ski lodge and maybe adding in an activity or a spa visit if you feel like it.
If you are a traveler, never “travel” with a vacationer.
I have done this. And it was neither of our faults. We were just new friends and didn't know eachothers trip styles. I wanted to take the free day outside of my work event to go do activities and try restaurants my viewers and acting teacher had recommended. She would have slept till 5pm if I had let her. It happens, but best to avoid as both end up feeling cheated out of something by the end of the trip.
This trip to Key Largo was a vacation. I was feeling fried after six months of traveling three out of the four weekends of each month and so I hopped on another flight to Miami then took a rental car down to a resort with a private beach. The only goal for this trip? Relax. And not work. Which I did for once!
…Which is impressive for me but would be more impressive if it wasn't Christmas and everyone else was on holiday vacation so I physically could not work but I digress.