Those Old Familiar Places
It was around 4:00 pm, and we were lying around the pool at the Holiday Inn next to the marina in Bradenton, Florida. That is when the daily ritual began.
In the distance, the blazing Florida sun was obscured by dark, looming clouds, and you could hear the claps of thunder. The storm was still far enough away that the only sign of lightning was when the dark clouds briefly glowed with white light. But it wouldn’t be long until those bolts of white energy would be overhead, and frolicking in a hotel pool was not a wise place to be. So, at about the same time every day, the lifeguard cleared the pool, and the fun ended abruptly. Argh! “March back to your rooms where it is safe. I’ll let you know when it’s time to come out again.”
I’m sure my mother was not excited that she had to herd her soaking-wet family back up to the tiny room where there was not much to do except complain, and I was really good at grumbling when my quarantine meant restricted pool time.
Extended Florida family vacations happened because my father was sent to the Tropicana Orange Juice factory, where he would oversee the building of his newest bottling machine. I’ve liked Tropicana ever since. I still like pretty much anything associated with my father and mother. I was one of the lucky ones born into a good family. I have lived long enough and seen enough to know that “lucky” is a good word for it because I had nothing to do with it. Florida was one of two major vacation spots for the Hamilton family.
The other relaxation location was a two-hour ride from Anderson to northern Indiana, where there are hundreds of lakes. In my childhood, the five-hundred- and fifty-one-acre Dewart Lake was our home for a week or two and numerous weekends. As I was entering my teens, my folks bought a cottage, actually a large mobile home, on an acre of land on Ridinger Lake which was a hundred and thirty-six acres of fun. The picturesque body of water was near much larger lakes where we could water ski. I have fond memories of both locations and hours spent in tiny boats fishing for crappie, bluegills, and perch with my folks. My parents allowed me to live there alone for two summers while I worked at Johnson Plumbing and Heating.
I still love to visit lakes. And I would probably be quite happy living near one. There is something peaceful about sitting on a pier or a pontoon boat, enjoying the unique aroma of lake water, and jumping in wherever you like. I also still like the beach and return to Florida a couple of times a year, but the summers are way too hot and humid for my taste. My sister, who has lived in the Sunshine State for years, tells me that Floridians stay inside in the summer while northerners stay inside in the winter—a good observation.
I received photos over the past two weeks from my children and noticed something interesting. All three locations represented places my three son-in-laws frequented when they were young. My oldest son-in-law grew up near Baltimore and very close to the Chesapeake Bay. Their family spent numerous vacations on the Maryland beaches, and now my daughter and grandchildren love the sand too. They purchased a home only fifteen minutes from a local beach on the Chesapeake, from which I’ve received numerous pics. Another son-in-law is a Philly native, and Mark likes to visit the Jersey beaches, especially Cape May, where his parents live. My daughter takes beautiful photos, so the beach scenes she sends are gorgeous, not to mention most of them include my grandson, Finn. One of their favorite breweries also resides in the area, which adds to the fun. Finally, my third son-in-law grew up visiting the Berkley Springs, West Virginia region. His family has roots in this beautiful region. There’s even a high school auditorium named after his grandfather. George Washington frequented the town to enjoy the hot springs. They even have an outdoor “bathtub” named after him. My daughter is now a fan of the area, which is also not far from the famous Harper’s Ferry.
It is funny how we like to return to nostalgic locations that brought us joy as a child. I suppose everyone has some unique places that bring back good memories but are still being enjoyed in the present. Why do we often return to specific locations, especially for vacations? I love to travel and have done so extensively, but there are a few places to which I would and do return again and again, Ireland being one of them.
For one thing, family vacations of any kind are healthy and formative for adults and children. Several studies reveal numerous psychological benefits to vacationing, especially for children. Families usually bond well when placed in an environment that is less stressful than normal and beyond their regular routines. Even those who return to the same location year after year still benefit from the change in environment. Vacationing is good for you and your family.
Travel experts talk about why people return to the same vacationing spots year after year, and it makes good sense.
Emotional attachment I have pleasant emotions when I walk up to the edge of a beautiful lake. The same is true with places in Florida. Interestingly, I stepped out of my house on this humid morning, and my immediate thought was, this smells like Florida, and I like it. Of course, that feeling will dissipate when the thermometer hits 90!
We like the familiar Returning to the same location yearly relieves us from some of the stress of planning the unknown. Most people have favorite restaurants, beaches, shops, and amusements at their favorite vacationing spot. We don’t have to wonder if we’ll like it, we know we will have fun. It’s kind of like trying a brand-new menu item. I’m sometimes nervous about ordering something out of my norm, not only because I might not like it, but I will have spent my hard-earned money on the meal.
Getting connected to the locals We’ve already visited the tourist traps several times, so now we have time to explore places and activities the locals do. I always try to find local restaurants because I can visit a chain food outlet anywhere. Locals know who has the best pizza!
It’s tradition Family traditions are an essential aspect of our well-being. We all need roots, and our heritage provides security and a valuable sense of the flow of our history. There is a reason why family tree websites are thriving. I’ve never visited Ireland, and I’ve been there nearly a dozen times when I don’t meet someone looking into the roots of their family tree. This phenomenon makes sense because one-quarter of all Americans have Irish roots.
Visiting a familiar location through several generations helps us know from whence we have come and where we might be headed. That knowledge is comforting.
I would also say that it does not always need to be in the same location, but create a similar atmosphere wherever you travel. Some people rent a home every year in a different location, but it doesn’t take long for them to work into the same routine year after year. The location may be different, but the pattern is the same.
As you might guess, I am a proponent of vacationing. And though I love to travel, returning to a “special” spot or two each year is a good thing. And someday your children will sit around laughing about the crazy stuff that went on when we visited . . .
Even Jesus had locations to which he repeatedly returned for respite. Running around with those twelve yahoos was enough to wear anyone out.
Enjoy your vacation. It is a jewel in your life.
Live Inspired,
Don Mark
P.S. I highly recommend a book just released this week written by my nephew, Joseph Myers. The book is called – Trust Me: Discovering Trust in a Culture of Distrust. The book explains how trust and distrust are not two sides of the same coin but separate entities to navigate. Learning to do so well will help you form deeper relationships and repair broken ones.
