Another way to find that perfect balance in life is not to take a week or two weeks, but to take 3-6 months and live and work overseas. This is a very realistic option for skilled professionals with highly marketable and in demand skills. I can attest to this having gone on 14 separate working vacations--form Australia to Zimbabwe, Mauritius to Mongolia--for periods lasting form 1 to 8 months. Never once did I have to pay for these trips and never once did I have to give up my day job. In my opinion this is the ideal way to find that balance between routine and adventure, between monotony and excitement.

Michael Schneider