We have always been a camping family and now that the kids are grown and gone, we still have a camping trailer for our vacations. In my younger days, when I could still drive and sit in a vehicle for long periods of time, we were “road warriors” and travelled extensively in the summers when the kids were out of school. Campers are great because I always had my bathroom whenever I needed it. It’s easy to just pull off the road to a parking area so I can run back to the trailer!

These days we don’t take “traditional” vacations for a week or more. Instead, we keep our camper at a campground about 45 minutes away from home. It’s a short and easy drive for a weekend away without a lot of packing or hassle. Vacation does not have to mean travelling for those of us who cannot travel for health or financial reasons. Even a short weekend can meet that need to get away. I’ve found that frequent weekends away are less stressful than planning, packing, traveling, etc. for a week-long trip. I’ve found that time away longer than a weekend tends to leave me more exhausted than not so the traditional vacations just don’t work for me anymore.

I’m a “cocooner” and yet I crave getting away (left over from my road warrior days probably!). These two needs / desires are obviously at odds with one another. But having the camper set up year round at a campground within a short drive of home meets both those needs.

~VP~
http://teachonline2008.blogspot.com/

A place to stay that’s relaxing without getting out and about would be my vote. Where short walks rather than long treks are possible. My need to go the bathroom is less in the afternoon than morning when I’ve had flare ups, so planning any excursions with that in mind is helpful.

The getting there is probably the trickiest part. Shorter trips by plane than longer ones? Getting an aisle sit as Rosalind mentioned is better than crawling over people. And, no matter where or how, going with someone who really understands is very good.

It’s so easy to stay home and sometimes we have to. if your spirit has different ideas than your body, sometimes you just have to take it with you.
Joan

As to bathroom breaks? Yup – between bladder problems and UC (even ileostomy means needing to voide fruquently) – I’m always having to tell people.

I avoid going places where there are no bathrooms – hiking , golf courses (I gave that up for that reason). BEing in cities can be a problem because restaurants often won’t let you just pop in and use the services. But you can’t always do that, can you? On a plane and in movies, I try to sit in aisle seats. Travelling IS a challenge — and I find that I just have to suck it up. I’ve even said to people that I have to go to the bathroom frequently so they might prefer to have me sit on the aisle – that sometimes works.
Rosalind