When You No Longer Like...

[Fierce Critter]

...what do you do?

So, Jon and I moved down to NC in early 2002. Prior to that, we loved getting up to the Traverse City area as much as possible. We'd even take day trips - going up in the morning and coming home the same night - just to go swim in a particular lake or eat at a particular restaurant.

So, upon our return to Michigan in 2005, we were eagerly anticipatiing being able to take a vacation up there. We finally got our chance this past week. We sold our boat, so we had a lot of cash to work with, which was a nice bonus.

But once there, we found we no longer enjoyed being there.

And it upset us. Because we absolutely used to LOVE it up there.

We talked about it together. Some of our shared insights:

We don't enjoy "quaint" anymore.

We get bored if we're not involved in some kind of activity, so sitting around a beach or campsite doesn't appeal anymore.

We never did like staying in motels, but camping cabins were too uncomfortable. So where in the world do we stay?

The nick nacks and stuff we used to love shopping for in the giftshops and craft places in town and the tourist towns don't appeal to us anymore. We seem to be more interested in things that have a specific use that we actually need.

We don't like cities. We don't care for a trip to Chicago or anything like that. But now we seem bored by the woodlands - so where in hell do we go for vacation in the future?

I could go on.

One thing we think is that living in VERY VERY rural North Carolina has ruined all things quaint, serene, and low-key for us. We thought while living down there that rural life didn't appeal, but that what we really would like is WOODLAND living.

Not so much.

We're really clueless. And upset.

We ended up coming home a day early.

Sigh. What to do, what to do? :(

[creatureofthenyte]

flip a coin on to a map of michigan and go where ever it lands maybe.

[sass_in_the_pants]

That is sad, but it happens to the best of people and the best of places.

So, all this means of course is that you and Jon need to figure out something else, something that still gets you out into the woods, and keeps you out of silly shops that sell washboards and souvenier spoons.

Have you ever considered geocaching?

http://www.geocaching.com/

You take a GPS into the woods, along with the GPS coordinates and then you go find the cache! Inside, there are little trinkets. You take a trinket, and replace it with a new trinket. It's like hiking with a purpose. Sometimes people go in groups, sometimes alone. It gets you out into the woods (or lakes, or where ever really) and it's really fun.

I used to go on organized bike trips all the time, too, like the Michigander. That's a week long, but there are shorter ones, sometimes just the day. A big group of people just go out and ride bikes on trails, or country roads. It's really very nice, and you meet the strangest assortment of cool people. They're all very normal very average people who just happened to want to ride bikes that day. Very friendly atmosphere.

Just some thoughts.

[Sybil]

*laughs!!*

Does that happen to all of us?

I can say that about places.. things.. and FOOD.

I have been Vegan for almost my entire life.. *whispers* I had steak recently. *clears throat and covers face but PROCLAIMS* I liked it alot.

A L O T.

Its okay to have vacation "taste" change, too, right?! Now you guys can EXPLORE new options. Attitude is everything, right? You seem to have a lovely outlook based on most of your posts.... Do something NEW.. something you have never done. Spice it up!!!!

(and then post about it!!!!! we can all use spice in life. ..or just cajun food..

[pomba gira]

Just because you no longer like woodland vacationing doesn't mean you wouldn't like woodland LIVING. I bet you'd like it more, since you're more activity-oriented now. Living in any setting is a lot different from vacationing there. Which still begs the question of how to spend your vacations. Per SITP's suggestions, I think you need to find something that gets you outdoors but in a more active, purposeful way than just beach-lounging or aimlessly dicking around the woods.

[Onyx]

I feel the same way. I can't take the beach for more than a couple hours. I used to spend all day there when I lived in Florida, and I loved it. I get so bored. Strange how we change.

Also when I have a chance to go away and take a long vacation (a week to me is long) I don't do it. I prefer to do a long weekend. I get too bored and want to come home. (the nice thing is though, long weekends mean I get more breaks, not as expensive as a whole week).

My favorite places are actually night clubs and theme parks. I'm saving for Disney by next year, then likely Vegas the year after.

[saechalyn]

We never did like staying in motels, but camping cabins were too uncomfortable. So where in the world do we stay?

There's nothing like a romantic little bed & breakfast.

[Crazed Vampyress]

ive had this feeling not only about places and things. but about people. as you grow you change. they change. and you just dont look at them the same. i had this happen recently....

on the plus side, FC, having this happen give you motivation to go on to new things, and you never know what you'll find just around an unexplored corner!

[pomba gira]

There's nothing like a romantic little bed & breakfast.

Seconded. I visited an absolutely gorgeous B&B last weekend... down in the Dexter/Pinckney area. I wanted to move in on the spot. One of the many winning points of B&Bs is that each one is unique... unlike the generic feeling of a motel, a B&B reflects the personality of its owner(s).

And FC, I share the thought that changing tastes & interests are a natural part of aging & growing as a person... and that this is an opportunity for you to discover a whole new world of activities & places to love!

[Kit Kat P]

Not quite romantic, but the Sierra Club is always looking for interactive vacationers. You basically work the whole time cleaning areas up, building ranger homes, that sort of thing. It's different, it's involving and it's useful to others.

[Homicidalheathen]

I used to love very active vacations where all I did was squeeze in as much as possible and do everything I could.

Now I just want to relax.

Camping is allot of work....I am getting tired of it...

My brain cant handle any more roller coasters......

Even getting tired of clubs and bars and concerts. I like listening to music at home and dancing here sometimes instead.

Crouds are not fun....

Maybe it is not that your getting set in your ways or whatever but need a change......?

[Der Nister]

What do I do when I no longer like the things I use to love?

I just say fuck it.

[Fierce Critter]

You know, when we got home, we started doing "the usual". Which is going to a park so Jon can do some metal detecting, and I sit in a chair or picnic table and read.

YAWN. That's been so boring. But this time, I forced myself to start reading a book again by not bringing ANYTHING else to do. It's been years since I've been able to read a fiction book - it was an odd side-effect of the depression.

So I brought one of my Nevada Barr books with me. Her books feature a character named Anna Pigeon, a National Park ranger. Each book is a mystery set in a different national park. I love these books because the characters are really enjoyable, and working for the NPS is a dream that Jon and I both shared at one time. I live vicariously through Anna.

Anyway, I ended up loving it so much, I finished one book in 2 days, and the other I've had sitting here in another 2 days. And I just started another book that's been sitting since 2001.

And Jon and I both wished we could go back up north. And this time, plunk ourselves down at the beach and just relax and have fun watching chipmunks go by.

I think we might be ready for the "sitting around the campsite reading and feeding chipmunks" progression.

No more long vacations left this year - no more time off for Jon. But next year, I think we're going to buy a pop-up camper and take that on long weekends.

We'll probably go back to the TC area, but I think we might try Alpena first. We've never been that way at all.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Learning is good, books help you learn fast. Devloping a desire to read is always a good thing.

In terms of "different" trips. How about like Cedar Point?

[Msterbeau]

I'm in a little different place. There's some activities/hobbies that I used to do that I don't anymore for lack of time, money, etc. Some I don't ever see getting back into, I've just moved too far, mentally, over time to go back. Some I might like to do again when resources permit. Some.. *coughbikingcough* I just need to get out of this "I hate the south, I don't want to go outside" attitude I've got right now.

[Fierce Critter]

I'm in a little different place. There's some activities/hobbies that I used to do that I don't anymore for lack of time, money, etc. Some I don't ever see getting back into, I've just moved too far, mentally, over time to go back. Some I might like to do again when resources permit. Some.. *coughbikingcough* I just need to get out of this "I hate the south, I don't want to go outside" attitude I've got right now.

1) I'm so there. I used to be an absolute fish. If we went to the lake, you had to drag me, kicking and screaming, out of the water. Now, I'm realizing I really don't care to swim much anymore. At least, I don't have to. I don't have the same compulsion.

I also don't think I'll ever really get into playing my guitars again. I was always so stunted by my inability to really play what was in my head. Really complex arrangements that my limited talent wouldn't allow to come out my hands. I mourn that a bit, but I have a new way of being able to do that (Cubase), so the pain is tempered.

2) "I hate the south, I don't want to go outside". Heh. NC did that to me. Kept me indoors for 3-1/2 years. I'm only recently rediscovering it's SAFE and COMFORTABLE, nay, even DESIREABLE to go outside again in Michigan. (God, I SOOO hope you get that job in Novi).

Yeah, I'm not liking the idea of giving some life-long things up because to me, that's screaming YOU ARE GETTING SO FUCKING OLD!!! This is compounded by my recent discovery of my first grey/white hairs. NOT a good combination for a woman crossing over into her 40's in 7 months.

But part of me is also comforted by the thought of moving on to more relaxing states of being. I don't feel the need to GO GO GO anymore. I don't want to slow down too much. But I don't feel as pushed toward planning every minute of every day anymore.

Cedar Point - I'd so love to go there with Jon. Probably won't happen this year, though.

[Nerdcore]

im having a hard time focusing on things too.. I have no interest in things anymore.. and school has taken up most of my time. I cant even finish my fav book. I have a new apartment that needs to be cleaned and I dont even have the energy to do that ( and it needs alot of work done !) I have no energy for nothing . ALl I want to do is sleep, but forcing yourself may be the only option to do somthing you and jon love

[Hellion]

Going up north

Playing rhythm guitar

Architectural model building

lost interest ever since computers took

that skill away(23 years exp,wasted)