The bags are packed with fits for the resorts and summer nights on the rooftop. What bad economy? That appears to be the response from many men to critics judging them for escaping the rat race this summer. When I’m wrong, I’ll admit it, but I had no clue folks were going to be outside this summer despite inflated prices at the pump and rising jet fuel costs.
“Vacation is fantasy”
If you’re doomscrolling on TikTok, you’ll see a plethora of breaking news from people like Aaron Parnas speaking about chaos in the government, societal woes, and the reality of the average Joe cutting back on expenses just to afford groceries. We’re not okay, right? Yet so many of my friends and acquaintances are opting for exotic destinations rather than rage-watching the current state of affairs on their smartphones. Maybe it’s not that we’re okay, but rather that we’re pushing on in spite of it all.
The average SGL man is no stranger to adversity, particularly those of us who survived everything from the pre-PrEP era to COVID. We’ve always adapted to a world spiraling out of control, yet we still find a way to LIVE. We know all too well what the alternative is, so we’ll seek out liberation, even if it’s only a temporary stop on the journey to the destination of our dreams.
I recently watched an episode from my favorite YouTubers, Tha Kentz, and they mentioned something that’s been living rent-free in my head. After luxuriating in Mexico for a friend’s wedding, Kent 2 said, “Vacation is fantasy.” I’ve gone on record saying that the vacation version of you is the real you, but Tha Kentz might be onto something.
A getaway should be about indulging in the things you might not allow yourself to do in everyday life. Vacation should give you permission to release yourself from the demands of the world and the monotony of the daily corporate grind. Are there things happening all around us that should give us pause? Absolutely. The decision to travel during times of turmoil, however, just might be the cure for the weight of a reality that not everyone can escape.
Maybe this summer isn’t about pretending everything is fine. Maybe it’s about refusing to let difficult times steal every ounce of our joy.
How is your summer unfolding?
