Connie recording at MediaPiu in Italy in 2010

Connie Recording at MediaPiu in Italy in 2010

It feels like summer this summer. As adults, sometimes – maybe most of the time – summer is just another 3 months – just a little warmer. Our schedules stay the same. Maybe we plan a short vacation. If you are in the US, and you work a regular job, you may get some vacation time, you may not.

Apparently we are the only advanced economy that does not guarantee any paid vacation time or even paid holidays. Most employers do give their employees some paid time off – a typical U.S. worker at a private company gets about 10 days of paid vacation and six or so paid holidays per year. If you are in France, bump that up to 30 paid days off per year. Viva la France!

As a self-employed person, I get to set my own rules on vacation days and usually it averages much less than the 16 days (vacation and holidays). I usually just work, work, work and squeeze in some mini-vacations throughout the year. And by mini, that could mean taking half a day off and heading down to the beach to do some body surfing. Or planning a weekend business seminar somewhere around the country – which is sort of a vacation.

But this summer I have made it more than just work. While I haven’t actually headed out of town yet, I have carved out lots more of those mini-vacations. Hit the beach with the boogie board. Enjoyed lots of live theater. Ate popcorn at the movies. Daily yoga and/or Pilates classes at the Y. Fussed around in the vegetable garden. Broke out the stained glass supplies. Had coffee with friends. Ah, the lazy, hazy, crazy days of sum…

Wait, this stuff sounds like ordinary things that most people work into their daily lives! Sigh. Such is the life of a solo-preneur. My last “vacation” was 5 years ago now – and I ended up recording something at a friend’s audio studio in Reggio Emilia in Italy – which helped pay for the trip.

But I have planned a 2-week trip to Bali this fall. A true – leave the laptop at home, get away from the day-to-day – vacation. (Although I hear that there is pretty good wi-fi, so I will be bringing my tablet.)

Happy Summer! (For those of you who celebrate…)