Have you noticed that during these few weeks at the end of August, it becomes less and less clear who's 'on vacation' and who's working? It used to be people took vacations. They left their office, they weren't on call. They were 'off.' There were all kinds of metaphors for this -- 'recharging batteries,' going 'off the grid,' or taking some 'down time.' But the results were the same. You left your office, your clients didn't call you, your co-workers or employees didn't ask you questions. You were able to spend time doing whatever it was that wasn't work. You could commune with nature, go bowling, or simply chill out. But the problems of the world and work receded for a bit.