alternatives are available to us now. The more demands we make on our current modes of energy efficient transportation, the better and more widely available they will become.

So, when contemplating whether to staycate or vacate, remember that remaining at home for recreation may not be as easy as it seems. Even if you are able to ignore the usual demands and responsibilities, just feeling their pull and mustering the energy to resist them can be draining in and of itself. Even worse is the temptation to stick with what’s familiar, rather than challenge and stimulate yourself and your family with new experiences. While it may be difficult to get past the price of gas when considering what to do on your time off, just consider what the true price of the staycation might be. •

Doreen Orion is a psychiatrist who traveled for a year with her psychiatrist husband around the U.S. in a converted bus. She is the author of "Queen of the Road: The True Tale of 47 States, 22,000 Miles, 200 Shoes, 2 Cats, 1 Poodle, a Husband, and a Bus With a Will of Its Own" (Broadway Books). For more, visit www.QueenOfTheRoadTheBook.com .