There is no worse feeling while on a vacation than the reality that you cannot take a “real one”. Even with a notice on your email telling everyone you are gone, you know if you don’t check it at least a few times, you might come back to the office with a fire to put out.
Vacations used to be a place where you spent your time decompressing. You could use vacation time to reconnect with your family; remind yourself your middle child’s name; hark back to why after a few days with your family you like short vacations over long ones. Perhaps you reinvigorate your barbeque skills; show off behind the ski boat or spend your time in quiet reflection.
Before my “smart phone” I had a Blackberry or what many people called even back then a “Crackberry” because looking at it was an addiction. I decided that I wasn’t that important and traded my Blackberry for a flip phone and refused to learn how to text. Life was perfect, I called those I wanted to when I wanted and answered the phone when the number looked like it might be from someone I knew and wanted to talk to. Then, as work started asking why I hadn’t responded to my email at 2 am, I was told that I needed a “smart phone”. I am on my 2nd of these vacation hating contraptions.
I have learned that my smart phone is great for some things. As a camera it is amazing and even my good SLR camera is now looking like a dinosaur compared to it. I enjoy applications that tell me what others experienced when they visited an attraction I think looks interesting. Podcasts that can entertain me through my car speakers has become a favorite past time as I travel the back roads on the way to my next gig. The app that gets me across Washington DC on the metro has probably saved my life many times, or at kept least from ending up in another state. My smart phone does have some valuable attributes.
However, it has also become my electronic leash, the businessman’s version of a criminal’s ankle bracelet. It automatically located me to make sure I know I have a signal so that the warden can find me. If the prison calls, I must answer in three rings or it is back to incarceration (the office) I go!
We need laws about this! Honolulu Hawaii understands. It now has made it illegal to navigate a cross-walk texting while walking. The first offense is a fine of $15-35, second offense? $35-75! Third or more, get ready to dole out a Benjamin. Other cities are soon to follow. To put some teeth into the law though, it must include a “no checking emails during vacation” clause. This must include hard-time for bosses who demand you check your email. I might recommend life sentences with no possibility of parole. I know this sounds harsh, but that is how strong I feel about vacations.
Perhaps it is just wishful thinking from a man who would like to be back on vacation without a phone.
The Mirror has two faces 
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