A Joyful Diversion

SHOPPING, for millions of people, is a joyful diversion! It's a good way to break away from ordinary routines or from responsibilities which have become humdrum. For many of these shoppers, looking for items on sale and sniffing out bargains is an antidote for the blues or for boredom. Even window shopping, it seems, can oftentimes squelch a feeling of the doldrums.

Going shopping gets people out of the house and away from the job. Therefore, visiting shops in order to examine or buy merchandise is a happy leisure experience for a huge number of individuals.

For some shoppers, the hunt for items to purchase can bring almost as much pleasure and satisfaction as does acquiring new possessions. Comparing prices, brands, styles, sizes, and colors at different stores becomes part of the shopping game. And, looking for one item can be as much fun for many shoppers as going on a shopping spree is for others. Shopping for items truly needed, or for optional or extravagant items can be equally enjoyable.

The amount of money a shopper has available does, of course, make a difference in terms of the number of items which can be bought - and the quality of those items. However, a shopper with a limited budget available for making purchases can still enjoy the act of shopping.

The particular place for shopping is not always the most important factor. Most people who love to shop usually find ample satisfaction just about anywhere. When it comes to shopping possibilities, the choices are abundant for most shoppers. From mom and pop operations, to name-brand stores, to strip malls, to large mall complexes with national chains; places of business - hoping to attract shoppers and their dollars - exist everywhere!

In all fairness, however, it must be pointed out that everyone does not enjoy shopping. In fact, a large number of individuals would prefer to do almost anything else. For them, shopping is a major pain. But, for the other group, many of whom believe they were "born to shop," the experience is a pure delight, a happy occasion, and - to be sure - a joyful diversion.
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-- The photo above was taken at Branson Landing, a new major shopping mall complex, located on the banks of Lake Taneycomo in historic downtown Branson, Mo.

A Day at the Fair

CORN DOGS, onion rings, roasted corn-on-the-cob, fried green tomatoes, lemonade, and cotton candy; the tilt-a-whirl, the Ferris wheel, bumper cars, and a shooting gallery: these are some of the things to expect when you plan a day at the fair!

Fairs can be found across the nation in mild-weather months. State fairs and county fairs are perhaps the most popular, however fairs with all kinds of names are also held. Over 100 years ago, fairs started out to be celebrations of bountiful harvests and progress in agricultural achievement for those in rural communities. But now, fairs have evolved into places for entertainment and festivities for everyone.

Some fairs are quite large in size; some are small. Most are somewhere in the middle. Fairs also vary with regard to the surrounding territory from which they expect to draw crowds. The location of fairs may be in small villages and towns, medium-size cities, or large metropolitan areas.

Most fairs have some common components: food and refreshment stands; a midway, including a carnival and side shows; various exhibits and displays, including crafts, paintings, and photography; the exhibition and judging of animals, including cattle, hogs, and sheep; commercial areas, including demonstrations of items for sale; contests of all kinds with entries judged for prizes, including hams, vegetables, pies, and cakes; and, a grandstand with an arena and stage area featuring special events, including races, horse shows, tractor pulls, talent shows, or perhaps even invited guest entertainers.

Fairs are fun places to be! Fairs are for everyone: little ones, teens, parents, grandmas and grandpas. When looking for an exciting day trip, or a fun-filled adventure, consider a day at the fair.
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-- The photo above was taken in the midway of the Ozark Empire Fair held in Springfield, Mo.

Truckin' for Pleasure

MOST PEOPLE who drive trucks aren't doing it for fun. This is especially true for those who drive the big rigs. For those guys and gals in the driver's seat of an 18-wheeler, it's about getting their load delivered to the right place at the right time. For semi drivers, it's about work - hard work. It's about long hauls, time-pressure schedules, quick meals, loneliness, and uncomfortable beds. It's not an easy life for this over-the-road bunch. Many are spending much of their lives on interstate highways.

Even for those who sit behind the wheel of those smaller trucks delivering packages, concrete, ice cream, or garbage, trucking is a job - a necessary duty to earn a paycheck in order to put food on the table and to make the house payment.

But, the driving of trucks is not necessarily drudgery for everyone. Not all drivers consider it a pain to steer a truck. It is truly quite possible to experience truckin' for pleasure!

Consider those who drive a pickup! Of course, some pickup truck drivers are in a business where the use of this type of vehicle is extremely useful and needed. In addition, there are others who aren't in business, but still find practical uses to haul things. However, a growing number of folks are having a whole lot of fun just running around in a pickup.

A few of the indicators that a driver of a pickup is having a good time are these: a smile, a wave, and a friendly "howdy." Further, these happy drivers are often seen wearing a ball cap. And, their trucks often include some bells and whistles - maybe even heated seats, XM radio, or a gun rack. To many pickup drivers, the age of their truck is not all that significant as long as it still runs!

Pickups are used for going all kinds of places, including those old-fashioned Sunday afternoon rides on the back roads of the countryside. Today, even Miss Daisy would enjoy a ride in a pickup. A pickup is the vehicle of choice for many people who live in rural areas, but it is just a popular - or perhaps more so - for city slickers. From little kids to teenagers, to adults, to retirees - folks of all ages love a pickup!

Need a new vehicle? Take a look at a pickup. If you already have one, the next time you find 30 minutes or more of leisure, take a ride just for fun. You just may uncover a new free time activity that you will want to repeat over and over: joy rides in a pickup truck!

The Value of Getting Away

EVERYBODY needs a vacation! This is especially true for working adults. The demands of a job, obligations in the community, and the necessities of the home cause some to miss the joys, delights, and freedoms which are possible during vacation periods. Kids also need time away from customary activities, homework, or other responsibilities. Even retirees can benefit from diversions, a change of scenery, and a break in their regular routines. Getting away from home, familiar surroundings, and ordinary things for a while can work wonders - and be like a breath of fresh air - for everyone.

It's so easy to get caught-up in all the usual things which - we believe - must be done. Unless we are very careful, our lives can become more regimented week after week. Before long, some of us can find ourselves in the "rat race" of human existence. When this happens, life seems to become a maze, and we are continually rushing to turn every corner in order to arrive at the finish line for each and every day. A solution to this dilemma is to slow down, prioritize our "to do" lists, and to purposefully plan vacations and get-away times on a regular basis. And, with regard to a job or a career, perhaps we need to work smarter - not harder!

The traditional summer vacation for a week, two weeks, or longer is still popular. However, because of the need to juggle increasingly complex scheduling situations, some are opting for shorter vacation time periods - but more of them per year. In addition to regular vacations, long weekends of three or four days are considered "mini-vacations" by a growing number of people. Their desire is to arrange more convenient schedules for time off work or time away from home.

The question of where to go on a vacation must be considered, of course. But also, questions such as mode of transportation, type of accommodations, length of stay, vacation activities, cost - and perhaps others - must also be resolved. Keep in mind that distance from home to the intended destination is not always the most important factor. Often, destinations closer to home are just as good - or better - than others which are many miles further away.

The sky is the limit when thinking about travel destinations and vacation attractions! There are hundreds of thousands all across the United States - and around the world - which would be excellent choices. Remember that the journey to and from the destination should also be as pleasurable as possible. Above all else, however, is realizing the value of getting away.
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-- The photo above is of the Chateau On The Lake, located in Branson, Mo.