Amy and Adam Geurden of Hollandtown, Wis., had planned a long summer of short, fun getaways with their kids, Eric, 6, Holly, 3, and Jake, 2. In the works were water-park visits, roller-coaster rides, hiking adventures and a whirlwind weekend in Chicago. Then Amy did the math: their Chevy Suburban gets 17 miles to the gallon and, with gas prices topping $4, the family would have spent about $320 on fill-ups alone. They've since scrapped their plans in favor of a "staycation" around the backyard swimming pool.

Worn down, feeling deflated as a bad tire? Consider a "staycation," a stay-put vacation where you absorb the budget-minded, healing powers of home sweet home. It's trendier than a Balenciaga handbag — and at knockoff prices. …

A proper staycation is about doing what you want to do.

Don't even think about scheduling home projects during a staycation.

By definition, a "vacation" should involve vacating, as in going away. Mine was more like a "stay-cation" — nine glorious days and nights in Myrtle Beach.

Millions of tourists do the same, and understandably so. But when you live here year-round, the last thing you want to do is go through the summertime blues in your own backyard, even if it happens to have an ocean.