The Sunday Five: Vacations

This post was triggered by Sassybear commenting that he has NEVER taken a two week vacation, and he is getting close to retirement. 
 

1: When was the last time you took a vacation (holiday for my international readers)? 

2: What is the longest period of time you ever took off from work for a vacation? 

3: Were there limits on how much time you could take off from work? 

4: Did you ever take planned, extended, unpaid time off from work? 

5: How do retired people take time off? 

My Answers:

1: When was the last time you took a vacation (holiday for my international readers)? Last April-May, we took a month off, a complete change of pace, routine, and place. 

2: What is the longest period of time you ever took off from work for a vacation? When I was working, about 2 1/2 weeks was the longest. 

3: Were there limits on how much time you could take off from work? With the exception of the last couple of years when I supervisory responsibilities that limited me to 13 days away, there was no official limit, but being gone for more than 10 days was frowned on. I stretched that to a little over 2 weeks a couple of times.  

4: Did you ever take planned, extended, unpaid time off from work? I love the concept of sabbatical - but never worked where that was offered.  I did take four months off one fall - it was life changing.  

5: How do retired people take time off? I think it is important to do a complete change of routine, we go away for a month. If we couldn't travel, I would order room service everyday for a week, let the laundry pile up. (The restaurant here at the condo delivers, just like room service in a hotel.) 

Please share your answers in the comments.