In the past week, I've been excitedly telling my friends and co-workers about my most recent trip to Las Vegas. On two different occasions, I've had people say to me, "I think you have a problem" because I visit Las Vegas 3-4 times per year. This really irritates me. If I had a problem, I'd probably be at the boats once or twice per week or more. I DON'T think I have a problem. What do the rest of you think? How should I deal with comments like this?

Mike,
If you have a problem you are at the right place, because we all have the same problem.We love Vegas.

Larry said it - and there is not a thing wrong with that. I have not been all over this globe but I have been over a good size chunk of it to include North America, western Europe, Fareast, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean and I have yet to find structures as fantastic as those along the Strip. IMHO, the people who designed, financed, and built these places should be awarded a medal AND there are people living right under your nose who have absolutely no appreciation for these accomplishments. Those of us on this board do. Just refer them to us. Wendell

P.S. It has also occurred to me that you may have some "aquaintances" who may be abit jealous. Wendell

I think that they are jealous too.

I used to go 2 and 3 times per WEEK when I had a work schedule and benefits that gave me that opportunity.

I used to have the same problem, we came to Vegas 4-6 times a year. Then decided we would go only one more time and make it last, that was 11 years ago. Now people cannot accuse us of having a problem with going to Vegas too much. :rolleyes:

I agree with the jealousy part, they criticize what they don't know.

Mike,

Here's another vote for the jealousy factor!

Try answering with a question.........."H'mmm, do I detect just a wee bit of jealousy?" You could also invite them to join you next time to see what it's all about.........but, that may not be good for you.<G>

I've not been told directly by some relatives, but I definitely get the feeling of an undertone that reeks of jealousy. However, I don't always agree what some of my family and friends spend money for, but that's their business.

Haven't traveled throughout the world as much as Wendell, but certainly covered most of the U.S.. We now have chosen LV as our favorite destination and I no longer give any excuses or explanations to anyone. You must be comfortable with it..........not others. I even had co-workers at one time, tell me I should not be wasting all my vacation time for snowmobiling in the winter. It was definitely none of their business. They just could not figure out what to do during winter months to get a break. It was definitely their problem............not mine.<LOL>

Our one daughter has even decided that, if Mom and Dad ever get depressed, she is planning to buy us airfare to Las Vegas. Nice daughter, huh???????

By the way, we are just 2 hrs. from A.C. and sometimes don't get to visit for months at a time. Remember, many people will tell you investing in the stock market is not gambling. Do you believe that??????????

Mike
Letha and I thought we were the only ones who hear that. I agree about the envy thing. Now I tell them to mind their own business!

I'm not so sure its envy. I suspect its more ignorance.

Four years ago I may have made that statement to someone. Now I am that someone!! My wife and I stopped into Las Vegas at the end of a trip to my son's college in California in 1998. We had never been and wanted to see what was so exciting. We were not in town an hour before we were planning a return engagement.

We have been a total of 8 times since then and will be back next week for #9. BTW, #10 is already booked for December.

My kids thought "Mom and Dad have a problem" until we took them with us last Christmas. Now we all "have a problem" and we sure have a great time together out there.

Tom

I vote jealous is my vote too!

Mike, I've run into this many times. To some, I just plain lie to, to avoid the problem. Like, I got a business meeting or convention, or factory tour of the products I sell. I don't tell everyone I go to Vegas 6+ times a year.
I enjoy traveling, but like most of our posters here, I've sort of honned in on Vegas. It's funny, when my daughter was young, no one accused me of being a disney freak, but we'd be there several times a year! YUCK! I hate the mouse!
Some just plain don't get it, either. I've found, most of the ones that will question if I have a problem, don't go anywhere, on any vacations. Oh they take vacations and just sit home and drink beer. WooHoo!
Mom is the weird one. She always asks when the next Vegas trip is, then says, "so soon?" This is the same woman that first took me to Vegas when I was 12, before it was "OK" to take kids to Vegas. The same woman that used to want to go to Vegas all the time. The same woman that would go to AC every week if she had the chance!
One more funny short story. These same people that question all these trips we take to vegas are the same people that ask, when I buy a new car, "What was wrong with the old one?" My reply....it was old. LOL

Oh Mike, I forgot one thing...

Yes you do have a problem......you got to get those vegas trip numbers boosted up a little!
Go more often!

WELL SAID TALK VEGAS!

We get this all the time at work. A few family members as well. I suspect there are whispered tones that we have a problem and the roof will cave in someday. LOL

When faced with the question, "Don't you think you have a problem?" I usually just respond, "Nope."

If pressed I'll point out that I've never been to the dog track, think that if they pass the slot machine gambling bill it will flop here in the bible belt, and I've never seen the inside of one casino in Topeka just an hours drive away. In short, I'm not a gambler, I'm a player. I'll play a few games but I really go to Vegas for everything else. We go for the shows, the restaurants, the sights, the tourist things outside of Vegas, et......

It seems that everytime we take vacation, we get this, "Vegas again?" They started to sort of back off that one since we generally go to Vegas twice, maybe three times a year and other destinations twice a year.

I've started just listing all the other places we've been in the last 12 months and ask why they aren't as concerned about those? We generally hit Denver once or twice a year, Chicago once or twice a year, maybe drive up to Kansas City to catch a football or baseball game, Branson is often a once a year trip, in the last couple of years we've been to Orlando, West Palm Beech, Lake Tahoe, New Orleans, Biloxi, and we have reservations to go back to Lake Tahoe, on an Alakan cruise, and Aviemore Scotland next year. So why are they so focused on Vegas? I know, it's because I talk about it ALL THE TIME.

They learned to just ask, when are you going on your next vacation and where is it this time? Most are a little jealouse that we go so often. They all have the same opportunity as I see it. They choose to spend their money how they choose, I choose to travel.

I was once asked why I choose to travel so much. The answer is simple, I was never told how long I had to live. My father died at 52 and my mother died at 60. Both had done some traveling but maybe not as much as they'd have liked too. I'm not waiting for tomorrow. I'll do what brings me enjoyment today. After all, it's only money.

Oh yea, I have a retrirement plan. I'm not selling out my future. Maybe selling out a couple of days a week off. I do work a lot of extra shifts to pay for our trips.

Better that than sitting around the house watching TV, drinking beer, or any of the other nonproductive things many of my coworkers might be doing. If those days off doing nothing brings them joy, more power to them. It just doesn't do it for me. I'd rather be looking forward to my next great adventure. It just so happens that Vegas is one of the biggest adventures of them all for us. <g>

Forgot to mention that I've become the resource for Vegas information at work. To date we have had three coworkers head out with us (one twice) and a coule of more have inquired. Two are going in July and I've helped some with advice. Another asked recently about Mandalay Bay and transportation for friends that are going soon.

They may make fun of me but my persistance is turning them to my way of thinking I think. <VBG>

Wow! Thanks for all of the comments! I feel much better now and think I have a couple of "come backs" if someone says this to me again. Ironically, I've worn one of my Mirage polo shirts to work today - let's see if anyone says anything to me today!

Much of what you have all said makes a lot of sense. When I think about it, I take three trips to Michigan each year for long weekends, I head off to Buffalo (my home town) at least twice per year, and I visit south Florida at least once per year and no one says "boo" when I take these trips. Yet Vegas, everyone always has to make a comment. When telling people I'm heading to Vegas, I hear "Again???!!!???" a lot too.

Lee - LOL! Believe me - if I had the time, I'd take more trips to Vegas each year!

Thanks everybody - what a great bunch of people you are!

Doug,
We too go other places besides Vegas, but no one asks about those. Like you, we are not selling out our future, but life is for the living. I'm not busting my 'you know whats' to leave my $$$ for someone else to spend.
Right now I'm working 12-15 hrs a day 6 days a week, and guess what. Vegas is like a carrot in front of a horses nose. It gives me a reason to do it! If you work hard, you should get to play hard! <S>
If nothing eles this topic has given us all a little place to vent our fustrations with some people who think "we have a problem" LOL

Wow, someone else works those long hours too? I had thought about cutting back to 48 hours per week until I got to buying airfare again. <g> Now I have myself back down for 60 hours per week for another month. Talk about a BIG carrot. <vbg>

YIKES!!!

12-15 hour days...6 days a week and 48-60 hour weeks is cutting back.....HOLY WORKLOAD Batman, That's a lot of overtime.

At first it just got me away from the kids. Now I'm afraid it's a habit. <g>

So, Mike - do they think you have a problem with gambling or because you always go to Vegas?

If its gambling - sounds to me like you've got your head on straight, and your priorities in line. But to some people, that's all they know about Vegas.

If it's because you frequently choose Vegas, then I vote for the "ignorance" comment. I too, had my first visit out of curiousity - and a convention - and then I was hooked!

I work in the cultural/museum field; where some co-workers take their vacations to Switzerland and other "tasteful" places. But I proudly use my MGM pens, display my Bellagio fountain pictures, and carry my "Reading Las Vegas" satchel (from the Clarke County Library System - had to get something cultural!) to work. And I've made a few converts too!

Next time some one says "Ithink you have a problem" would you mind asking them "what is the problem you think I have?"

I'd be really curious to know!

Kes