Oblication
- noun
1. A compulsory visit to out-of-town family or friends.
Visiting your in-laws this weekend? Enjoy the oblication. Just don't tell them that's what you call it.
Instead of jetting off on a self-indulgent getaway, 93 per cent of North American travellers use their hard-earned vacation time for out-of-town obligations, a new survey from Travelocity.ca has found.
In other words, most of us take “oblications” (defined by UrbanDictionary.com as a sacrificial offering of vacation time and money to make compulsory visits to friends and family).
While most of the respondents – 1,017 Canadian and Americans polled in early October – said they love catching up with relatives, visiting in-laws topped the list of unpopular oblications at 14 per cent. Weddings, milestone events such as graduations and reunions, and visiting family were all equally reviled at approximately 9 per cent. (Come on, what's not relaxing about a family reunion?).
But fear not, duty-bound traveller – oblications can be dodged with some savvy crafting of plans. Some respondents said they avoid using vacation time for visits by not telling friends and family they're in the area (goodbye tea time; hello, beach party). Almost half give themselves a little space by staying in a hotel (48 per cent) while 38 per cent plan separate activities. Another 38 per cent try to combine oblications with leisure time, like trading the formal wedding wear for an argyle vest and an obligation-free afternoon on the links.
