We are workaholics.

That’s pretty much the conclusion of the “Vacation Poll” I put up awhile back. I asked if people were changing their vacation plans this year, and 56% of the 41 respondents answered that they don’t go on vacation. At least, that’s what I’m assuming everyone thought the answer “What are these vacations?” represented. I usually have one “funny” answer in the bunch for every poll, but this time, the majority actually picked it.

I’m a little surprised. However, the other day I was listening to a news program and it was saying that the idea of a “vacation” is a rather modern sort of thing, at least for the average middle class person. Also, I think that “taking time off” and “taking a vacation” are probably two very different things for a lot of people today. You might take some time off from work as a sort of mental holiday, but you might not actually go on a trip.

So much for accurate, scientific polls.

Anyhow, I was also surprised at how many people said they weren’t going to change their vacation plans at all. Almost a quarter of respondents said that they were keeping them the same. I suspect if I’d run this poll a little earlier in the year, that number might be lower. A combined 20% or so said they were either going to downgrade their trips or have a “stay-cation” this year (i.e. make more of a local trip).

We’re actually opting for more of a local trip ourselves this year. Well, since California is such a gi-normous state, I guess it’s not such a short distance. We’re probably heading up toward Monterey - if this was on the east coast, we’d be driving through at least 3 or 4 states.

OK, there’s a new poll up. I’ve been doing quite a few repairs and building odds and ends in the garage lately. I got to thinking - am I currrently in the minority who actually build things? None of my friends or anyone I know my age actually “builds” anything any more, unless it’s related to what they do at work.

I’m not talking about anything crazy like building your own TV or a rocketship. I’m talking of something simple - say, like a ladder. The other weekend, I spent the whole afternoon building a custom slanted ladder to reach the walk-on second shelf which I also built, with the help of my dad) of our garage. I could’ve bought a ladder at Home Depot for cheap. But I just wanted to build a custom one, mostly because I had the extra wood.

I’m not trying to say I’m all cool because I build things - I was just very lucky that my dad built EVERYTHING himself, so some of it rubbed off on me. But you know the PBS shows you see where the homeowner guy builds himself an Arts and Crafts dining room table? That’s not me, I’m actually a horrible wood worker. I guess some of it is also being stubborn at not wanting to buy new things. I’m just wondering if the average Cheaplander (who doesn’t work in construction, etc.) has ever actually built anything. And I’m not talking about projects from shop class. I mean actually building something for use in your home.

Oh, and gals - sorry, but you aren’t excused from this poll. =) Please answer at the right - thanks!