Save 'em for spring?

[mondeo]

To me, vacation days are for those days in the middle of the season that you know the conditions are going to be great. Spring skiing is about relaxation and fun, which is more of a weekend thing, unless you happen to know about 10 other guys that are willing to move the weekend to, say, a Thursday in mid-April. Luckily, I'm early enough in my career, and work in a group that has an atmosphere that allows me to take random days off on a few days notice (it does confuse people when I take a Thursday off and not the Friday, though.) I also have to save them for a few other things, like a wedding in August (2 days,) and possibly Alaska this summer with my family (5 days.) Throw in a couple more random days, and I'm down to 4 days for skiing next December. Not as good as late January/February, and not as fun as spring, but, in my opinion, a better use of the days than to use them in April.

 

[riverc0il]

I get 15 days right now. 10 for skiing 5 for summer. I have been slacking on using them due to work being so busy this past year. But there is never an intention to save them specifically. I use them when work allows and when mid-week days are going to be stellar. I usually use at least one or two during the spring but most are for powder days. Never use vacation days unless there is something special going on mid-week whether that be a powder day, perfect corn day, or skiing with other folks. Which usually means I have plenty come spring to use as needed.

 

[kingslug]

I tend to burn a lot of them going out west. Yet I still have enough for the spring. This year I thought I would get some good warm days out in Cali but it never warmed up, hell it's still colder than normal here. Maybe try a different strategy next year, but there is no way to predict what will happen with the weather. Very glad I burned a few early season when it dumped upstate.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I actually get 18 days officially and 3 floating days so 21 days in total..not bad..but weak compared to what people get in Europe. We also typically close down at Noon on a Friday but in the summer I have alot of evening and occasional Saturday appointments. What's sad is that the average American doesn't even use all their vacation time and alot of people don't use their vacation time for actually vacations but to just hang out at home. Oh well..it is what it is. The good thing about my work is that Winter is our slow time of the year and eventually when I'm in charge of the company..I'll be able to take off even more time during the winter and hopefully I'll get some sort of winter rental in Jackson Hole...that's serious incentive to bust ass..and not complain so much about living in Pennsylvania..

 

[RISkier]

Don't think a 4-day work week will ever become typical. Would require pretty radical changes in the way business is done. But we could adopt a civilized vacation policy. As for not using vacation time I think there are several reasons: I've heard many folks in business professions say they feel they feel that taking vacation time puts them at a competitive disadvantage in the rat race to get ahead in their organizations (e.g., their bosses think less of folks who actually take vacation time). Many use vacation time to get stuff done around their house that they don't have time to get done otherwise. And many spend their vacations at home because they can't afford to travel.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I’m a teacher and I have to admit my reasons for becoming one where not altruistic, it was because I wanted the time off to do the things I wanted to do. Maybe I could have made more money in the private sector, but I have no regrets.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I’m a teacher and I have to admit my reasons for becoming one where not altruistic, it was because I wanted the time off to do the things I wanted to do. Maybe I could have made more money in the private sector, but I have no regrets.

For a 180 day workyear..teachers make good money..and teaching is one of the few remaining professions where you can retire in your 50s with a great pension..