We have a paradoxical view of travel and time off in English. As I’ve already noted, we historically associated travel with unpleasantness. And yet we assume that significant time off will be spent away from home. In my latest article for The Week, I look at some of the other lexical paradoxes we have for leisure time:
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Sesquiotica 
“What else about time off seems to take leave of the original senses?” I particularly enjoyed this turn of phrase.
Thanks!