Each November, my sister and her husband visit Hawaii for two weeks to relax and celebrate their anniversary. This has been going on for more than 15 years now, and for almost as long, I have secretly thought that this must be so boring. I would always tease her by joking that there are other locations on Earth they may want to add to their repertoire. However, she would quickly remind me that Hawaii is a place they have come to know very well and love very much. It is their version of paradise and they have had no need to look any further.
I am beginning to appreciate this point of view as I mature. Although I still enjoy the thrill of exploring new cities when I travel, I can completely understand the comfort of returning to a certain spot again and again. It can, in fact, feel like coming home.
I am currently in Athens on business, which is a city I enjoy and have visited close to 10 times. It has been almost two years since I have been back, and for the most part things are the same. Although sadly some beloved restaurant and shops have closed, imagine my surprise when I arrived at my hotel from the airport and the same doorman I’ve had countless times welcomed me back again. It truly brought a smile to my face and triggered me to recall previous trips and adventures I have had here.
Another reason for singing the praises of repeating vacation destinations is that it provides an opportunity for building traditions with your loved ones. It gives the whole family something to look forward to throughout the year, whether it is visiting the same little seaside town in summer or renting a favorite cabin in the woods for Thanksgiving. After all, it doesn’t have to be new to be good.
Who cares if your neighbors are always going to some exotic getaway and bragging about it while you are mowing the lawn? Vacations are not about competition or keeping up with the Jones’s. They are about reconnection and rejuvenation. Whatever that means to you is by all means what you should do. And as for my sister, next November I will no longer give her a hard time and will instead wish her the best visit ever to Hawaii.
As always, I wish you all the happiest of travels!
(*Mikrolimano Image via Shutterstock)
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