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clive bradbury · 02-27-09, 10:21 AM

Thanks for all the input gentlemen. Is it possible to draw a few conclusions (or at least further talking points), from all this?

1. Wanting to spend time seeing your own country is of course a valid reason for not travelling abroad, but even small countries can take a lifetime to explore. I am 51, and have not seen all the UK by any means. That does not stop me wanting to explore other countries, too. So is it more of a cultural thing?

2. Travel distance required doesn't seem to bother the Aussies, who if anything have to travel much further than most Americans, yet still do so. Admittedly, most are young people just out of university etc who probably take six months or a year to do so - often working in bars to subsidise the trip. So does the US have a 'backpack culture' in the same way?

3. Holidays. This seems to me to be the big one. Almost worth a separate thread. How do you US guys feel about your low number of holidays? Do you think you get enough (ooh er, missus!)? Do you think that the low numbers of breaks are counter-productive anyway? Tired and jaded workers tend to make more mistakes. As holidays are often one of the few chances for quality family time, does the US quota affect that too? For example, this year I have decided not to work for more that six weeks together as I find that I work more effectively that way. Admittedly, I am self-employed and overpaid for what I do, so I can award myself more holidays (3 months this year) - not always been that way, so I am making the most of it whilst I can!

Again, please leave the politics out of this if possible, I'm much more interested in personal experiences here.

02-27-09, 10:21 AM	#48
clive bradbury Captain Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: stoke-on-trent, UK Posts: 492 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	Thanks for all the input gentlemen. Is it possible to draw a few conclusions (or at least further talking points), from all this? 1. Wanting to spend time seeing your own country is of course a valid reason for not travelling abroad, but even small countries can take a lifetime to explore. I am 51, and have not seen all the UK by any means. That does not stop me wanting to explore other countries, too. So is it more of a cultural thing? 2. Travel distance required doesn't seem to bother the Aussies, who if anything have to travel much further than most Americans, yet still do so. Admittedly, most are young people just out of university etc who probably take six months or a year to do so - often working in bars to subsidise the trip. So does the US have a 'backpack culture' in the same way? 3. Holidays. This seems to me to be the big one. Almost worth a separate thread. How do you US guys feel about your low number of holidays? Do you think you get enough (ooh er, missus!)? Do you think that the low numbers of breaks are counter-productive anyway? Tired and jaded workers tend to make more mistakes. As holidays are often one of the few chances for quality family time, does the US quota affect that too? For example, this year I have decided not to work for more that six weeks together as I find that I work more effectively that way. Admittedly, I am self-employed and overpaid for what I do, so I can award myself more holidays (3 months this year) - not always been that way, so I am making the most of it whilst I can! Again, please leave the politics out of this if possible, I'm much more interested in personal experiences here.