Making decisions can be hard, but I have a job that demands that I make lots of decisions each and every day.

Some of them are relatively simple: If I receive a letter to the editor from an anonymous source, I automatically decide that we will not publish. That is in keeping with our policy.

Other decisions can be much more complicated: If multiple boards and councils are meeting on the same evening, it falls to me to decide which of those sessions are most important for us to cover. That might mean that I need to examine and compare agendas or look back at previous meetings to get an idea of what is going on in a particular community or school district.

All day, every day, my job requires that decisions be made. I decide which articles to publish on a given day. I decide when an article is ready for publication. I even decide on which specific words might appear in a news story or a headline, as well as what photographs we have that would best illustrate those reports.

I also make personnel decisions, such as who to hire and who should cover which beats. I decide whether requested vacation days can be approved, or if doing so would leave us too shorthanded at a given time.

Needless to say, after a long day of making all those choices, I don’t necessarily enjoy making decisions at home. Sure, I have strong feelings about certain matters, such as what color to paint my living room.

But in other, much more mundane situations, I sometimes struggle to make a choice. Selecting a TV program to watch, for example, can become frustrating and irritating for me.

That is probably one reason why my husband, Mike, and I haven’t been on a real vacation in several years. The thought of choosing a destination, selecting accommodations and planning a travel schedule and itinerary doesn’t excite me; instead, it brings on a sense of dread.

Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t made it easy for anyone to plan to travel and enjoy a vacation. This year, however, it seems many people are determined to get away from it all, no matter what.

Yes, COVID is still out there (and it could return with a vengeance). High fuel prices will make every aspect of a trip more costly.

Still, all indications are that travel is on the rise and will continue throughout the summer.

That brings me to a question: What are your vacation plans this summer?

Here at The Times Leader, we know that a large number of our readers are interested in travel, whether it be short trips around the local region or an adventure in another state or country. So, we want to take a look at what folks in our area are planning for the summer travel season.

We want to know things such as:

∫ What vacation destinations do area residents have in mind?

∫ What method of transportation will be most utilized as people travel?

∫ Will high gasoline prices and other costs associated with inflation make local residents alter their travel plans?

∫ Will you vacation only with immediate family, or will you travel with a large group?

∫ While you are away, what types of attractions, events and activities will you seek out?

∫ What creative alternatives are you considering to help save money while still having a good time?

Obviously, we won’t share details of readers’ plans that could make them vulnerable. We won’t announce specific dates when a couple might be away from home, for instance.

But, if you are willing to share some of your plans with us, they may be highlighted in an article we are planning to publish over Memorial Day weekend — it is the unofficial start of summer after all.

If you would like to give us some input, there are several ways you can reach us:

∫ Drop off a note or mail it to our office at 200 S. Fourth St., Martins Ferry, OH 43935.

∫ If you are computer savvy, visit our Virtual Newsroom at timesleaderonline.com and post something for us.

∫ Send me a message via email at jcompston@timesleaderonline.com.

Maybe, if you don’t have plans already, this column will inspire you to give it a little thought.

Regardless of what you decide to do with your summer, I hope you take some time for yourselves and enjoy whatever you decide to do!