It would be great if you could meet with some Aussie Bokies. BTW, I want your job, please. Do you work flexi hours to have half the year off.It seems each time I log on you are off on another jaunt. Maybe in a previous life you were an airline steward.
Matthew gave me another term, but I won't say it.
as for half the year.....I wish. However, there are no restraints on when you take your time, so I almost never take full weeks.
What I will do is (for example) take off Thursday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday. My office is closed on weekends. Therefore, instead of useing 5 days off, I've used 4, and can use the "extra" day somewhere else.
I also try to use some holidays when traveling. Example. In October, the banks are closed on Colombus day. So if I want to go somewhere in October, I'll take off Thursday and Friday. Monday will be the holiday, and then I'll take off Tuesday, so I use three days instead of four.
By planning it this way, it extends my vacation time.
This year so far, I had time off in Feb. (when Matthew, Rich, RouxB, Gail, and others were in town), had 4 days in June for when I went to Ma. for the AIDS walk and PTown trips, I have this week's trip to Canada, in October I'll be in New Zealand, and then have time of in November as well.