A "Trip" vs. a "Vacation": Let's Clarify

Michael and I had a good conversation the other day about definitions, specifically the definitions of "trip" and "vacation." This conversation came about after a very long day on the very "trippy" trip we happen to be on right now.

These "definitions" are completely subjective, and apply only to my own little family* :)

*In fact, I'll admit that some statements actually apply only to myself, especially if they involve naps or Very Thick Books.

TRIP

Usually to an exciting new place or city. Ambitious. Schedules. Lots of pre-trip planning. Tennis shoes with every outfit you plan to wear usually a must. A "full schedule" (Read: too many activities) planned on trip. Beautiful sightseeing. Beautiful landscape. Take 800 pictures and usually never go through them and print them out. Return home more tired than when you left (important point). Have some fantastic memories from the trip, but also a vague feeling of being really tired at least some of the time. 

VACATION

Relaxation. Break from normal responsibilities. Little or no worry about money, within reason. Hours of uninterrupted hang out time with my best friend/cute husband.  Beautiful sightseeing. Beautiful landscape. Little/no/VERY flexible schedules. Sleeping in. Every day. Naps (my own insertion). Great food. Reading an amazing book (or series of books if you're me). Take 800 pictures and usually never go through them and print them out. Come home refreshed and relaxed with some great memories. 

My best vacation to date? My awesome honeymoon at Sandals in St. Lucia. Quiet. A break from daily responsibilities. Little or no worry about money, within reason. Hours of uninterrupted hang out time with my best friend/cute husband. Beautiful sightseeing. Beautiful landscape. Sleeping in. Naps. Great food. Reading an amazing book (or series of books if you're me). 

I've had the blessings of many great trips and vacations in my life, and of course I've had a nap or two on some of those "trips" and have been dead tired at times on some of my "vacations." I'm not an all-or-nothing kind of person (at least I'd like to think so--my husband would probably disagree with that statement at times)  so I am not saying that I am expecting to be tired all the time on every trip or that I won't call anything a vacation where I can't read a 3-inch novel. I'm generalizing :).

It was just a nice (and healthy) thing to get my husband and I on the same page about what to expect when we go out of town.

Especially now that we have Gabriel, it is a good thing for both of us to be realistic about going out of town. Call things by their right names, you know? A communication point maintained, I think, by every great team. :)