You need an excuse to be contemplative? Go for a drive. Every time I drive, I try to figure out what's wrong with everybody. That's contemplative, right? :D

I worked for a place that demanded a lot of my time and at one point, I REALLY needed a vacation. I hadn't had a real one in quite a while and some friends had set up a rafting trip in the Grand Canyon. After that, nothing seemed as important or out of control as it had before.

Still, it's not the place, it's just a matter of stopping to think. It's really easy in a place like the Canyon- people had to make a living from the land and whatever was available and I was worried about some idiots at work? Pfffft!