Why buy vacation home/cabin instead of travel (Minneapolis, St. Paul: rent, condo)
Minneapolis - St. PaulTwin Cities
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I have always been curious why Americans talk about their "vacation home" in a different place where they vacation "every winter" or "every summer." In Minnesota, people talk about their vacation home up north and in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.
I enjoy travel more than vacations. Instead of "vacate," I fill my travels with adventurous activities, cultural exploration, architectural beauty, and food. To me, visiting the same place for a second time loses that initial excitement. Of course I have my favorite places I don't mind returning anytime. But I'd like to make a conscious effort in seeing a variety of places, new places, in the U.S. and around the world.
Why would I return to the same vacation home each time, when there is so much out there that I haven't seen and experienced yet? I would rather rent a condo each time and explore a new area. Or perhaps go deep into Peru, Mexico, Costa Rica, or Southeast Asia. Constant change of scenery, a sense of remoteness, and unfamiliarity. I love coming back home with a sense of achievement.
A vacation home/cabin seems dull and un-creative. Minnesotans seem very backward and provincial.
I have always been curious why Americans talk about their "vacation home" in a different place where they vacation "every winter" or "every summer." In Minnesota, people talk about their vacation home up north and in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.
I enjoy travel more than vacations. Instead of "vacate," I fill my travels with adventurous activities, cultural exploration, architectural beauty, and food. To me, visiting the same place for a second time loses that initial excitement. Of course I have my favorite places I don't mind returning anytime. But I'd like to make a conscious effort in seeing a variety of places, new places, in the U.S. and around the world.
Why would I return to the same vacation home each time, when there is so much out there that I haven't seen and experienced yet? I would rather rent a condo each time and explore a new area. Or perhaps go deep into Peru, Mexico, Costa Rica, or Southeast Asia. Constant change of scenery, a sense of remoteness, and unfamiliarity. I love coming back home with a sense of achievement.
A vacation home/cabin seems dull and un-creative. Minnesotans seem very backward and provincial.
What's your opinions?
you smardt and worldley we ignrant and stuk in mud
A vacation home/cabin seems dull and un-creative. Minnesotans seem very backward and provincial.
What's your opinions?
Provincial, yes. Backwards, no.
Minnesota as a state is pretty progressive in terms of social justice, conservation, and recreation. This is great, especially in comparison to much of the rest of the country.
The problem that comes from this is that Minnesota natives recognize this, and thus believe that there's nowhere better in the world to be. Hence, being provincial. The attitude I've seen here is, "We already live in the greatest state on earth, so why go anywhere else?"
I worked in Colorado this summer with a girl who was also from Minnesota, except she was a life-long resident (I've only lived here the last year and a half). Even being surrounded by mountains, clear streams, bright blue skies, and tons of adventures, she couldn't wait to get back home. Meanwhile, I'm counting the days til I can leave here.
Anyways, a lot of it is in the way you were raised. Going to the cabin "up north" is a tradition in MN, WI, MI, and several other states. When your family vacation is always the same thing, you grow up thinking that it's the best way. If you grow up going on adventures, you think that's the bee's knees. Different strokes for different folks.
That said, I personally think excitement, adventure, and new experiences is the way to go
Well, most people buy their vacation homes early in their lives so they have a pleasant place to retire. Most people our age that we know that bought a vacation home bought them for about $45,000. They are all valued well over $500,000...seems pretty smart to me ...and not only do they enjoy these homes for years, the also travel so I guess it's the best of both worlds
To golfgal,
Buying a vacation home costs a lot of money today, not to mention property tax, management, etc. Unless you use it a lot, it seems more hassle to buy something far away. And how do you know so early where you would like to retire to? If purely for economic reasons, there are better ways to invest.
Minnesota as a state is pretty progressive in terms of social justice, conservation, and recreation. This is great, especially in comparison to much of the rest of the country.
The problem that comes from this is that Minnesota natives recognize this, and thus believe that there's nowhere better in the world to be. Hence, being provincial. The attitude I've seen here is, "We already live in the greatest state on earth, so why go anywhere else?"
I worked in Colorado this summer with a girl who was also from Minnesota, except she was a life-long resident (I've only lived here the last year and a half). Even being surrounded by mountains, clear streams, bright blue skies, and tons of adventures, she couldn't wait to get back home. Meanwhile, I'm counting the days til I can leave here.
Anyways, a lot of it is in the way you were raised. Going to the cabin "up north" is a tradition in MN, WI, MI, and several other states. When your family vacation is always the same thing, you grow up thinking that it's the best way. If you grow up going on adventures, you think that's the bee's knees. Different strokes for different folks.
That said, I personally think excitement, adventure, and new experiences is the way to go
Denver is a different type of natural beauty. To me, only west of Denver can be considered spectacular natural beauty. Denver itself was dull and uninteresting. It is not very green and lush. The Twin Cities have much more water and greenery.
Minnesota's culture is quite traditional. As a single and childless person, I do feel quite a distance between the majority of people here and people like me. Can you really say that this place is "progressive" when the family-children-church complex is so dominant? It is progressive in some ways, but not all. People's experiences, outlook, and ambitions all seem regional. What I'm looking for is cosmopolitan and stuff to do. Las Vegas, Miami, San Diego, have stuff to do and they make you feel that you are in the center of excitement, great vistas, good looking people, wonderful food, and fast paced life. People celebrate their life, enjoy life, embrace dynamic urban atmosphere. You don't feel that you are the only one of your kind and you are being judged.
Denver is a different type of natural beauty. To me, only west of Denver can be considered spectacular natural beauty. Denver itself was dull and uninteresting. It is not very green and lush. The Twin Cities have much more water and greenery.
We were right in the mountains, so minus all the rich snobs pretty much as scenic as you can get in that area...though I personally like Grand Junction
Quote:
Minnesota's culture is quite traditional. As a single and childless person, I do feel quite a distance between the majority of people here and people like me. Can you really say that this place is "progressive" when the family-children-church complex is so dominant? It is progressive in some ways, but not all. People's experiences, outlook, and ambitions all seem regional. What I'm looking for is cosmopolitan and stuff to do. Las Vegas, Miami, San Diego, have stuff to do and they make you feel that you are in the center of excitement, great vistas, good looking people, wonderful food, and fast paced life. People celebrate their life, enjoy life, embrace dynamic urban atmosphere. You don't feel that you are the only one of your kind and you are being judged.
Politically it's very progressive (at least in the Cities and up to Duluth). I think you'd find the dominance of family/church in most areas, though from what I've seen the Cities are a little bit "hipper". As you go further north, though, things get pretty ridiculously traditional. I do feel like there is more of a "stoic" approach to life here rather than a "be merry" approach elsewhere. There is a fine balance though- get too far on the "just have fun" end of things and you just get plain irresponsibility.
We were right in the mountains, so minus all the rich snobs pretty much as scenic as you can get in that area...though I personally like Grand Junction
Politically it's very progressive (at least in the Cities and up to Duluth). I think you'd find the dominance of family/church in most areas, though from what I've seen the Cities are a little bit "hipper". As you go further north, though, things get pretty ridiculously traditional. I do feel like there is more of a "stoic" approach to life here rather than a "be merry" approach elsewhere. There is a fine balance though- get too far on the "just have fun" end of things and you just get plain irresponsibility.
I think most cities are quite the same way. Minneapolis/St. Paul may be a bit hipper than average. Exciting places are touristy places. When you get an influx of the leisure crowd, you have services and places geared toward them.
Minnesota as a state is pretty progressive in terms of social justice, conservation, and recreation. This is great, especially in comparison to much of the rest of the country.
The problem that comes from this is that Minnesota natives recognize this, and thus believe that there's nowhere better in the world to be. Hence, being provincial. The attitude I've seen here is, "We already live in the greatest state on earth, so why go anywhere else?"
I worked in Colorado this summer with a girl who was also from Minnesota, except she was a life-long resident (I've only lived here the last year and a half). Even being surrounded by mountains, clear streams, bright blue skies, and tons of adventures, she couldn't wait to get back home. Meanwhile, I'm counting the days til I can leave here.
Anyways, a lot of it is in the way you were raised. Going to the cabin "up north" is a tradition in MN, WI, MI, and several other states. When your family vacation is always the same thing, you grow up thinking that it's the best way. If you grow up going on adventures, you think that's the bee's knees. Different strokes for different folks.
That said, I personally think excitement, adventure, and new experiences is the way to go
The vacation cabin is mainly a weekend getaway in the summer for the most part and has nothing to do with a superiority complex. It may just be a practicality complex. How on earth are you going to travel abroad on just the weekend. The parents have to work on Monday (or Tuesday if it is a holiday weekend like Memorial Day), so they get away on weekends to a cabin on summer weekends that is often not much more than 100 miles away (my parents had one just 60 miles away when I grew up there). I would guess the percentage of Minnesotans with a second lake home is small, but maybe higher than some other states.
Minnesota ranks 12th for passport ownership and that is when they use their vacation time for longer trips to another country. How do you explain the high rate of passport ownership among such provincial people? Facts trump exaggeration again.
Denver is a different type of natural beauty. To me, only west of Denver can be considered spectacular natural beauty. Denver itself was dull and uninteresting. It is not very green and lush. The Twin Cities have much more water and greenery.
Minnesota's culture is quite traditional. As a single and childless person, I do feel quite a distance between the majority of people here and people like me. Can you really say that this place is "progressive" when the family-children-church complex is so dominant? It is progressive in some ways, but not all. People's experiences, outlook, and ambitions all seem regional. What I'm looking for is cosmopolitan and stuff to do. Las Vegas, Miami, San Diego, have stuff to do and they make you feel that you are in the center of excitement, great vistas, good looking people, wonderful food, and fast paced life. People celebrate their life, enjoy life, embrace dynamic urban atmosphere. You don't feel that you are the only one of your kind and you are being judged.
It is ironic that in Minnesota's traditional culture gay people can legally get married. Try that in Las Vegas or Miami...oops! It is still illegal in Florida and Nevada. Cosmopolitan indeed. LOL!
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...and not only do they enjoy these homes for years, the also travel so I guess it's the best of both worlds
