During hot seasons around the world, it has long been a tradition that people would travel or decamp to whatever cooler places they could find, whether it was the mountains, the lakes or the sea. The types of homes they would devise for themselves were often of the simplest kinds, meant only for a those warm summer weeks or months that they could get away.
In addition to the coolness this allowed, there was also the enjoyment of a simpler life in these temporary homes and it was often felt that the simplicity and closeness to nature was enriching in itself. This simpler life balanced the complicated, machine oriented life of the cities and was an opportunity to refresh family and community. Why do you escape?
Travel plays a huge role in the things I surround myself with. I think, while traveling, one has a heightened awareness of everything, because everything is so different and one needs to come to terms with it. A basic thing like a window in most any other country is a thing completely different than on our American homes. I also take note at how much other countries really have practical, excellent ideas. Shutters: Now, why don't we have shutters? Real shutters? They make a ton of sense. And tankless water heating? C'mon, that's a great idea, that should just be everywhere. And, in hot-weather countries, they just have tanks on the roof to warm up some water. Warm enough for a shower. Why can't that be standard issue in the Southwest?
On the other hand, some decorating ideas should just stay put in their native countries where they belong. The idea of installing terra cotta kitchen floor tiles should never have come back with me from Italy. That notion should have been stopped right at the border.
posted by fledgling on July 3rd 2009 at 9:57am
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view Maxwell's profile
My favorite escape is visiting another city, whether a new one or one I've been to before.
view fabframes's profile
I picked foreign country. But the reality is closer to the staycation. I haven't been outside the country in almost 10 years. I need to change that soon!
The beach house/cabin sounds nice too.
view insanity_pepper's profile
I'm with fabframes--I like visiting other cities. Exploring new ones or old favorites.
view BetterBombshell's profile
Inn to Inn hiking in Europe combines 3 of the 4. My husband and I (and sometimes another couple) spend the days walking in absolutely beautiful, unspoiled countryside. At the end of the day, we arrive at an inn which has some measure of luxury, but always good plumbing a comfortable bed, great views, a fine restaurant and lots of local wine.
We've been doing this for 10 years and it's the best.
view Dulcibella's profile
I voted 'staycation', as that's what I usually do because I can't afford a proper trip to anywhere now. However, in my dreams, I would vote a foreign country with new experiences...will do one day...
view junklover's profile
Any large city.
view hrhprincessfiona's profile
I like them all but these days I tend towards spas. Particularly the japanese variety - onsens. Just returned from Ten Thousand Waves in Santa Fe. It was absolutely incredible.
view SeanG's profile
My FAVORITE is foreign travel, but my LIFE is mainly staycations... Oh well...
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