Americans work on their vacation

After I got out of the Army, I worked in Italy and Germany. The Italians seemed to take a vacation every day avoiding stress. But the Germans worked hard every day, except during vacation; then they worked at relaxing. My German friends had a saying, “A...

How to train house guests or be one

Summer is here, and more than a few people would like to come visit if you live in Paris, New York City or have a country house almost anywhere. Mention beach, and you may find yourself with new and dear friends. Free is better: There may be B&Bs galore or...

Vacations are a necessity, not a luxury

Some people I know, when they are really stressed out, take an afternoon, evening or full day off. The next day, they are back to work. Others kick it for a weekend, and then dive back into the daily routine on Monday morning. I’m flipping through my mental rolodex of...

Camping — is it your thing?

Lord knows, it’s not for everyone. There’s a theory that people who are contemplating going camping or sailing should spend the weekend together in a bathroom. Tight quarters do not necessarily guarantee closeness – and I’m not referring to physical space. Having...