Tomorrow I leave for a month-long sabbatical in Spain

[many a good man]

Twelve years working in the same place. Never more than two weeks off at a time - and even then I was tethered to Blackberry. Now I'm ordered to take a month off with NO connection to work. I'm taking five weeks total. All paid.

I plan to make the most of what could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We'll be spending four weeks in one of the most beautiful places on earth - a gorgeous island in the Mediterranean where my wife has lots of family. We are staying for free in a cousin's piso only a few blocks from the sea. It will be a great thing for my wife as she lost her mother this past January and it will be really good for her to be around a large loving family who loved her Mom and loves her.

Right now I can't even imagine what this experience will be like. After eight years of bush* and twelve years busting my a55 on the job I'll have a chance to take a long pause and contemplate my life and the world like I never had before. I will probably take a complete hiatus from my beloved DU and the hated MSM.

I wish everyone had an opportunity like this - I hear it is actually quite common in more civilized countries. My company started this program about two years ago and it was the only thing that didn't get axed with all the budget cuts. Everyone with at least seven years of service is eligible - from the mailroom clerks to the CEO.

Has anyone else had the opportunity to take a sabbatical like this in their working careers? Any advice?

[applegrove]

1. No Advice except to have fun! Sounds heavenly!!!

[many a good man]

2. Thanks! I will take your advice.

I'll miss DU (but I don't expect anyone will miss me!). Hope we get a public option by the time I get back!

[Brigid]

3. You're going to Spain and you're not taking me?

:(

Seriously, have a great time and be sure to have lots of pictures to post here when you get back! :hi:

[Zomby Woof]

4. I'm jealous

I love Spain. Lived there for 3 years when I was a kid, and not a day goes by I don't think about returning.

Make the most of it!

[many a good man]

8. Me encanta espana, tambien!

My wife wants to practice her Catalan as much as possible there and I want to brush up on my Spanish so we'll have to work out a compromise. Hopefully I can pick up some Catalan.

[Iggo]

5. JEALOUS!!!!

Have fun.

[Skittles]

6. how did you get this again?

I've never had more than 9 days off in over 30 years

[many a good man]

7. I don't live in a civilized country....

but I'm lucky enough to work for a civilized company - that's one of the reasons I wanted to work there. Everyone is eligible after seven years if they've had good performance reviews the past three years in a row.

One of the guys in the orientation used to work in Brazil and he said that over there they do this kind of thing EVERY YEAR!

[Skittles]

9. I have to work with Brazilian offshore

the amount of time they take off for lunch and dinner, it shocks me they even need vacations. Guess who gets to clean up their shoddy work?

[DFW]

10. I've been on a 30 year sabbatical

I was offered an overseas posting in 1979 and never looked back.

By the way, if you're going to be on one of the Balearic Islands, don't count on hearing a lot
of Spanish. They are all Catalan-speaking, although they all learn Spanish in school as well.
And you would do well to keep away from the tourist-mobbed coastal areas. The mountainous area
of the interior, especially of Mallorca, is spectacular. People like Michael Douglas and Catherine
Zeta-Jones have places tucked away there, just to get away.

[grace0418]

11. I adore Spain. And I've only been in Madrid and Barcelona. But I would move there

in a heartbeat if given the opportunity. Especially Barcelona, that city was heaven on earth to me.

Have a wonderful time! I'm insanely jealous!

[NJmaverick]

12. Well enjoy

sounds like it should be a great experience:hi:

[seemunkee]

13. Have a fantastic time

What an amazing opportunity.

[Blue_Tires]

14. don't forget to watch the SuperClásico!