Back to the original question, when Martin (my 7-year-old son) and I got back from our 10-day camping trip in June, I set up the tent in the yard and have slept in it every night since then.

That has broken a pattern of late nights (reading, watching television, cleaning...) and sleep deprivation -- I can't wait to get out there to stargaze from my mesh-topped summer bedroom, so I retire at 9:00 now -- and that, in turn, has kept me much more kindly disposed towards the world in general and my family in particular. It dowsn't hurt that the inflatable mattress is actually more comfortable than my inside bed.

By the way, my husband is a workoholic too. He gets twitchy if I force him away from the house for longer than about two and a half days. After my cancer bout in 2004, I decided that life was too short to miss out just because he wouldn't take time off, so here's what I did: packed up the Mini Cooper with all the camping gear, which left just enough room for me and Martin but not actually enough for my workaholic husband; apologized for not being able to fit him in the car; and left anyway!

This year has been my third such vacation, and each has been utterly delightful for the whole family -- for Martin and I because we love camping, road trips, and spending time together (I work long hours when I'm not vacationing); and for my husband because he doesn't have to leave home, and doesn't even have to show up at "family times," like dinner. (By the way, he's been retired since 2002, but a workoholic will find work to do even when not "working"!)

Kat, I am planning to come to the Getaway this year and you are high on the list of people I most want to meet. I surely hope you can come!