I left work this evening, and I won't be going back until November 30th. I'm on sabbatical. When I started working at my current job, about 10½ years ago, they offered four weeks of "bonus vacation" after 10 years of employment, to be taken alongside (if I recall correctly) two weeks of your regular vacation, which you had to accrue. A few years ago, we unionized and now, in our collective bargaining agreement, we are eligible for "bonus vacation" after seven years, making it a true sabbatical. And I think it's a bit more flexible about how much of your regular vacation you have to accrue. The change came a bit late for me, but I'm not complaining. Sabbatical, bonus vacation, whatever, it's just great.
It will be seven and a half weeks off from work. Some of the time, I'll spend in California. In about a week, I'm going to drive down to Big Sur, California, and spend two weeks at the New Camaldoli Hermitage. As the word "hermitage" implies, it's a place for solitude, silence, reflection, and prayer. It's a remote location, where there's no internet access or mobile phone coverage. I am going to take along books, including a Bible, notebooks and pens, knitting and needlepoint. And a coffee maker.
I'm consciously keeping my expectations modest about how it will be to spend that time there. I hope and trust it will be beneficial to my mental, emotional, and spiritual health—and indeed for my physical health as well—but I am not relying on any visions, ecstasies, or revelations. Besides, those might freak me out. I think it will be kind of like a spa for my soul.
After my time at the hermitage, I will drive to San Jose, California, and spend some time with my sister and her husband. That, too, I expect will be restful and restorative.
