Friday, April 10, 2015

A Vacation Hold for Newspapers - and Social Media?

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you may have noticed that I typically wait to write about my travels until after I am home. There are a few reasons for this.  
  • First, I don't blog and travel well. I am just too busy exploring, having fun, and socializing with travel companions to spend the quality time necessary to write a post.  
Paul McCartney, Concert, Missoula MT
Seeing Paul McCartney in concert in Missoula MT was fun for our whole family last year.
  • Secondly, and more importantly, I have a bit of Internet paranoia.  It just seems like an unnecessary risk to announce to the whole world that I am gone from home. Not that I don't trust my readers - but common sense tells me that I don't know for sure who all is able to see what I post - or how much they may know about me.  Why would I take the risk of telling a potential thief that my house is standing empty?
How about you? Do you announce your trip on Facebook? (Or on your blog or other social media?) Sometimes we are so excited by a trip we have planned, it is hard not to tell everyone we know about it.  Or, even if we don't spread the news before you go, there is a significant chance our children might post family plans on Facebook.  This information, however, may not always be the smartest thing to share.
Downtown Denver

Most of us protect ourselves by stopping our newspaper and mail delivery when we are away, so overflowing amounts of them in our driveway do not indicate that our house is uninhabited.  Do you think similar caution should be taken on-line as well? Have you ever worried about this - or do you just not see it as a risk?

 I just prefer to be safe instead of sorry. Traveling always provides a lot of photo opportunities and stories however, so I hope you don't mind that I wait to share them after I'm home. 
Bear statue, Colorado convention center
A bear breaking into the Colorado Convention center? We didn't expect to come across a bear here -at least not one this big!

The three photos below were taken at the same location during our travels during Spring Break. 
Can anyone guess where?

Leave your guesses in the comments. 
The answers will be on my blog next week.  
I can't wait to see who guessed right!












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15 comments :

  1. Karen @Baking In A TornadoApril 10, 2015 at 12:53 PM

    I'm definitely even more paranoid than you are. I mention names as little as possible, birth months but not dates or exact ages, leave out our exact location and rarely talk about vacations. I trust the people I feel I've come to know, but not the ones who lurk in the background. I've had enough of my content stolen to know that I'm better safe than sorry.

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    1. Susan April 12, 2015 at 4:39 PM

      So sorry to hear you have had content stolen Karen. That just is so disappointing.

      Delete
  2. Rena McDanielApril 10, 2015 at 3:58 PM

    I would say that I never post that stuff either but I know I have in the past. Sometimes it's so hard not to post a pic to Facebook when I am traveling and I know I did when I went to the BAM Conference. I just got to excited and forgot my common sense. I am really more careful with my personal FB page though and it only has friends and some bloggers that I know I could trust and that is where I usually post such things but still it isn't a good practice. I think because I am so relatively new to Social Media that sometimes I forget that other people can be lurking in the shadows like the weird guy who tells me he loves me every time I share something on Google + lately WEIRD!

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    1. Susan April 12, 2015 at 4:41 PM

      By the sound of it, your secret admirer would make me feel uncomfortable too!

      Delete
  3. The Seana MethodApril 10, 2015 at 6:47 PM

    I never announce that I am going to be traveling... I think it is a security risk. Always wait until you are home:) I have no idea where you are, but I'm sure it is nowhere near me (CT...) Just stopping by from Adrian's "Meet 'n Greet"!

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  4. LanaApril 10, 2015 at 11:44 PM

    I have to admit that I've announced when I'm on vacation. However, our house is never really left alone. Since we work from home, there are always employees coming and going, and we get a house sitter to watch the house and Abby. But you're right - it's a good idea to be careful, because you just don't know who might be reading. Love the bear picture! And I have absolutely no idea vacation pictures were taken, but I can't wait to find out!

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    1. Susan April 12, 2015 at 4:44 PM

      Sounds like you have good precautions in place Lana - and I will reveal the location of the photos one da this week!

      Delete
  5. Kelly McKenzieApril 11, 2015 at 8:25 AM

    Wow that cloud/sky photo is amazing! I've NO idea where the photos were taken as I've not travelled in that area but I'll hazard a guess that it's somewhere either in Montana or Colorado! As for sharing the news that I'm away? I do it after I get back. Otherwise I'm thinking it's like "Come on over! The dog and bunny are in boarding, I'm away, help yourself!" I think I mentioned my tech savvy pal who warned me you can't be too careful? Well I've really taken his message to heart. The fact that he refuses to go on Facebook or Instagram is a constant rallying call to me to try and be vigilant about everything I post.

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  6. AnonymousApril 11, 2015 at 11:50 AM

    I have no idea....Custer's Last Stand?

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    Replies
    1. Susan April 12, 2015 at 4:46 PM

      Answer will be on my blog this week Delores!

      Delete
  7. Elephant's ChildApril 11, 2015 at 3:20 PM

    I too am clueless.
    And don't play FB or instagram. Or twitter. Paranoia is better than coming home to find you have been robbed though.

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  8. LL FarmApril 11, 2015 at 5:40 PM

    My guess is Texas...or Arizona. I understand you not posting about vacation until it's over!

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    Replies
    1. Susan April 12, 2015 at 4:47 PM

      Stop back this week Lori Leigh, and I will reveal the answer. Thanks for guessing!

      Delete

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