A week off to do…what?

June 7, 2005

I recently saw in the intranet site at work that we’re actually getting two days of holiday for July 4th. The company’s giving us Monday and Tuesday, July 4th and 5th. And that same intranet app is projecting that I’ll have over 140 hours of vacation accumulated by the end of the year.

That’s bad–my employer likes everyone to have under 40 hours at the end of the year. So much so that if you do get your vacation balance under 40 hours by December 31, then the next year you’re awarded an extra 40 hours vacation to use. It’s both an accounting gimmick (carry less vacation on the books) and a life-balance thing (encourages people to take time off from work). I’m cool with the policy on both counts.

So I just filed my vacation request for the remaining three days of that week. Which means first week in July I now have off from work. But what to do with all that time?

I was contemplating Las Vegas of course–Bally’s sent me a flyer with some $59/night room specials throughout the month of July. Now the reason they have those specials though is that Vegas is damned hot that time of year. On the other hand there’s probably no conventions scheduled either that time, so the place won’t be crowded. But I’m not finding any good flight deals so I may take a pass on Vegas.

Southwest has a few deals out of Louisville, but nothing really compelling. There is Ft. Lauderdale for under $100 each way. I could rent a car and drive down to the Keys which I’ve never been to.

There’s also Pigeon Forge, about a five hour drive from here. Have never been and would like to, but I fear that week it will be absolutely packed down there. There’s also Nashville and Opryland just a few hours south of here. Maybe I could get a good deal on Opryland after the 4th, when the crowds die down.

Dunno, too many options. Gonna have to think about this a while before I come up with something.