Kurt Vonnegut wrote that Bokononists welcome "peculiar travel suggestions" (as, for example, when the taxi driver asked if they could make a detour to visit the taxi driver's mother's grave), because Bokonon said that such suggestions are "dancing lessons from God."

Any externally-imposed departure from routine can be viewed the same way. Something unimaginably wonderful might happen if you accept the two weeks of deprivation, rather than trying to maintain complete control. And, after all, is it such a great hardship to lose two weeks of callous maintenance?

I say take the holiday. Learn a new skill. During the 8-day trip, try to be open to whatever Fate had in mind when she sent you the equipment malfunction.