As a company policy, we are required to take summer leaves before the end of September. I scheduled mine this week though I didn’t really make travel plans because my wife had to work and it was only me on vacation.

So for one week, I got to experience life without work … all by myself!

At first, I was excited! I could go the the beach! I could climb a mountain! I could watch all the YouTube videos! Imagine all the good things I can do!

Then again, as the week went by, reality wasn’t living up to expectations. I wasn’t able to go to the beach because it was either raining or cloudy. I was afraid to climb a mountain by myself knowing if something happens to me, nobody would find me. I also got sick of watching YouTube videos.

I needed to see real people and talk with real people. The problem is everybody is at work, even my wife! Tried searching for nearby tennis events but quickly realized most events are on weekends as most organizers also have weekday work!

One evening, I decided to just join our team drinks even if I was on vacation. That helped. The next morning, I decided to just walk around the city until my feet got tired. By mistake, the shoes I wore weren’t exactly comfortable, so I got tired quite easily and by 1PM, I was on the train back home.

It got so bad that I even started thinking maybe I should just go to work. I know that would be a little too extreme, but what else can a little bored salaryman like me do? After reaching home, I just watched more YouTube. Boring.

For today, I decided to have breakfast at McDonald’s. I just finished eating, and I have time so I started writing this blog. Had I used all the time I had to write something, I think could have even written a book. Seriously!

I guess I got a taste of what people have to go through when they retire. After working for decades, they suddenly had to stop and essentially start anew. They can try a few new hobbies like painting and gardening but those can only get you busy for so much.

When old people say they are bored and don’t have anything to do, it was very easy for me to say, “get a hobby or something”, when as I just learned, it is not always that easy.

Tomorrow, my wife is taking a day off so we could spend the long weekend together. That means today would be the last day of my boring vacation. Whew!

Next time, I’ll be planning my vacations better.