I know a lot of lawyers, and they’re always telling me, “Evan, I’m just too busy. I can't get caught up. What's worse, no one appreciates me. I'm burnt out. I lie awake at night and think, ‘Why did I become a lawyer?’”
Sometimes the answer’s simple. “Have you been reading overlawyered.com again?” I ask. Usually, however, the solution is more complex, and I end up suggesting a vacation. The troubled lawyer invariably replies, “I’d like to, but I’m just too damn busy.”
It got me thinking: Why not use this blawg to conduct a “virtual retreat” for lawyers who are too busy for real vacations? They may not have time to travel, but surely they have time to read my blawg. I’ll choose the dates (sometime in June, most likely); I’ll plan and post the itinerary; I’ll choose the events; I’ll be responsible for making sure everyone who wants to attend gets there safely, drinks responsibly, and stays away from my wife.
You won’t even have to sign up. When the time comes, all you’ll have to do is read as I describe in excruciating detail what’s happening hour by hour on our virtual retreat.
I promise to keep everyone updated about the plans. In the meantime, it might help to have suggestions as to the choice of a location. I’m thinking San Francisco, Miami or New Orleans. Tell me what you think, or suggest a location of your own—the only caveat is that the location must be somewhere I’ve been before. Otherwise, how can I describe what's happening?
More details coming soon . . .
There's no place prettier than Maine in June. And I can take everyone on a sailing tour of Casco Bay. Hell, why not Penobscot Bay if it doesn't have to be real. It's much prettier there. And since it's virtual, everyone can fit on my boat, which will be a lovely way to travel. We'll have a well-stocked motorboat travelling with us to get to the next cove ahead of us, anchor, cook our meals and have drinks and hors d'oeuvres waiting when we arrive.
Posted by: Scheherazade | April 27, 2004 at 04:40 PM
Scheherazade: An excellent suggestion. Even though the virtual retreat will be a "working" getaway (mostly for tax purposes), I think the sailing tour of Penobscot Bay will fit nicely into the plans. On the other hand, since I've never been to Penobscot Bay, I fear taking a turn down a Matrix-like blind alley, never to return. I'm definitely going to add your idea to my list, but it may not come to fruition until you conduct your own virtual retreat (though there's no reason our two blogs can't team up for Virtual Retreat No. 2).
Posted by: Evan | April 27, 2004 at 09:37 PM
May I suggest beautiful St. Louis, Missouri. Now I realize that this is not too far of a retreat for you, Evan, but in St. Louis we could attend a virtual tour of the Anheuser Busch brewery, and the virtual tour guides would let us have an extra cup of that fine lager beer.
Posted by: Dave | April 28, 2004 at 09:53 AM
Dave: I agree that St. Louis is beautiful, except in those places where it's not beautiful. Is that a slam? Maybe so, even though I love St. Louis (I grew up there, and work just across the river). In any case, you have nothing to worry about: there'll be plenty of fine Anheuser Busch products where we're going.
Posted by: Evan | April 28, 2004 at 10:03 AM
For those who don't even have time for a virtual Evan retreat, may I suggest checking out this one-minute vacation website. A new 60-second vacation is added every Monday.
Posted by: David Giacalone | April 28, 2004 at 11:14 PM