Don’t Bother Me, I’m on Staycation

August 14th, 2008 by Sally | Posted in Girl's Eye View, Uncategorized |

Sorry for the lapse, but I’ve been trying to adjust to being back home. Back to the gym. Back to the diet. Responsibilities. Bills. Life stress. And after a week of checking out all that’s changed here – from the new paper towel dispensers at Gold’s to my dear friend Stephanie’s growing girth to the revamped Disney stage show at the El Capitan Theater – I’ve resolved to check out, period. Staycation. Who needs a far away island when you can create that same sense of retreat at home?

Declaring a staycation is kind of like declaring a period of celibacy when you’re really just having trouble getting any – it’s a pre-emptive strike. It’s shooting the finger at the working world with your 1987 “Don’t bother me; I’m on vacation!” bumper sticker. Except that no one notices the difference between a person getting a hurried latte at the Coffee Bean and a person ordering a glass of wine at lunch. Especially in L.A., where everyone could be “producing” or waiting for a call-back or silently fading from fame. Or staycationing.

So, while no one has noticed, I’ve seen the John Lautner show at the Hammer Museum, followed by a fantasy, “what’s-my-dreamhouse?” session of drawing. I have shopped for new iPhone applications at the iTunes store, discovering one called Shazam, which was perfectly constructed for all those times I heard a great song in a store and wanted to know what it was. I’ve seen 5 movies in 5 days, eaten popcorn at each, and reconfirmed that the Arclight’s is the best. And I’ve wandered into – and subsequently participated in – a belly dancing exercise class, replete with a ching-chang skirt, music from “Dreamgirls,” and instructions like “Pull-it-in-and-shake-it-up. In…and up. In…and up.”

A report out yesterday said that Americans drove 12.2 billion fewer miles in June than the same month a year earlier. With gas prices still soaring (I’m sorry, but coming down to $4.29 from $5.15 does not impress), we canceled our planned road trip to Colorado this week. But the real reason had nothing to do with gas; I was enjoying my staycation too much.

Next week, I’ll be taking another before-summer-ends vacation. After all this activity in my staycation, I will likely need one. And oh – you’ll be able to tell the difference. Because, ironically, on vacation, I’ll likely be writing a whole lot more of these.