I live by a credo, a guiding principle, a commandment. Call it what you want, but it pretty much defines me and my life, and affects virtually everything I undertake to do, or plan to do. That guiding principle, which motors my moral compass, is that One should do nothing today cause you may not have the time to do it tomorrow. Or something like that.

Now it may sound cheesy (it is), but I’m not the kind of guy who will toil and sacrifice and save and end up with a huge 401k or a million dollar nest egg. In fact, I’m broke. But happy.

I spend what I earn, and only earn enough to let me stay alive. The rest of my time I spend doing nothing. So, my point with all this blather is to induce you to experiment with stepping off the rat race conveyor belt, at least long enough for you to enjoy a weekend or a week at a Bed & Breakfast doing nothing. Absolutely nothing.

As Neil Genzlinger, New York Times, so eloquently puts it,  a bed-and-breakfast or small inn is, to us, a well-appointed cave where we go with the goal of doing nothing. Not just a little bit of nothing between bursts of something. I’m talking about all nothing, all the time. Innkeepers know us. “It’s surprising how many we get,” said Al Granger, owner of the Glasbern Inn, a converted farm in Fogelsville, Pa. “A lot of people just come and vegetate.” Debrah Mosimann, who runs Swiss Woods in Lititz, Pa., with her husband, Werner, sees the phenomenon, too. “I have couples who will come park on the sofa, and that’s where you find them four hours later,” she said. It’s an art form, this aggressive inactivity, one that deserves a guide every bit as detailed as a Fodor’s or Bradt.

Before you tune out of this lazefest, Genzlinger does have some actually useful information which you might want to take note of. For novices, a good way to explore the art of doing nothing is to go someplace where there’s nothing to do. A bottle of your favorite libation is, of course, essential. Nothing else is. Be especially careful not to take any laptops, video games, iPhones, BlackBerrys, briefcases or co-workers. When you check in to your chosen B & B, you may find in your room a selection of pamphlets and magazines promoting local attractions. Burn these immediately…

He suggests a fine list of inns and B&B’s in and around New York for a do-nothing getaway. Let’s start with the Ecce Bed & Breakfast, located at 19 Silverfish Road, Barryville, N.Y.; (845) 557-8562; nestled on the verdant green slopes rising up out of the mist of the Delaware River.

You’re a liar if you tell me you wouldn’t relish a weekend here doing nothing except lazing around, stuffing your face and just watching the river meander through the green countryside.

You can curl up in front of a warm fireplace, just hang around the deck hoping to spot a bald eagle, eat stuffed baked french toast with cream cheese and seasonal fruits, or just pretend to be dead on a hammock.

Other suggestions inclue the The Inn at Lake Joseph 162 Saint Joseph Road, Forestburgh, N.Y.; (845) 791-9506; River Run Bed & Breakfast 882 Main Street, Fleischmanns, N.Y.; 845-254-4884; Glasbern Country Inn 2141 Pack House Road, Fogelsville, Pa.; (610) 285-4723; Swiss Woods Bed & Breakfast 500 Blantz Road, Lititz, Pa.; (800) 594-8018;

It’s a great read. Do read the full article. It’s worth it. I promise you.

In fact, I think this could be a whole new travel sector. ‘Do-nothing vacations’. No cell phones, internet, business meetings, and no historical buildings, no tourist attractions, no surfing or skiing or mountain climbing or any shit like that. All you do, plain and simple, is make like Jughead or Garfield. End of the weekend, you emerge fully relaxed and totally stress free. Only one small problem - You want to continue doing nothing even after the vacation is over. Just a minor hitch….

One thing that puzzles me is the New York hospitality industry’s fascination with numbers. You’ll find any number of hotels, lodging and even buildings which have numbers rather than names. Consider the Swiss 1291 Bed & Breakfast. It was named after the founding date of Switzerland by the Swiss born Roland Solenthaler.

But more important, and far more relevant, numbers associated with 1291 are the numbers 39, 50 or 140. These are the rates, in dollars, which you would have to pay for a stay at the 1291 B&B for a dorm, private room or a suite/studio/apartment, respectively.

Factor in the location - 337 West 55th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10019; (212) 397-9686. What you essentially get is a place to stay in New York, within walking distance of both Times Square and Central Park for anywhere between $39 to $140.

That’s not only cheap, it’s dirt cheap. Course, it’s not exactly five star accomodation, but that’s not what you need to say to friends back home. What you get to say is that you stayed in a Times Square hotel for $50, and watch their jaws drop.

The dorms have single bunk beds, lockers, shared bathrooms, kitchens and all day breakfast. The private rooms each have a double bed, fridge, radio and some have a television. Bathrooms are still shared. There’s also a big screen television in the liunge.

The New Yorker suites at the 1291 B&B each have a queen size bed and bunk beds with a capability of being able to cofortably house a large group of 4 to 8 people. Comes with fully equipped kitchen, private bathroom, television, radio and phone. Upper floor suites also have a balcony.

So if you’re in a group of 4, you can essentially pay about $35 per head for a spacious suite with your own bath and kitchen. As good as your own apartment. Between Times Square and Central Park. And one more tiny freebie. As long as you stay at the 1291, you get to use a free cellphone which you can use to make calls nationwide, and recieve free international calls. The room charges include a free American breakfast with tea, coffee, milk and cereal. You know of any New York Bed & Breakfasts which offer so much for so little?

Info: 337 West 55th Street New York, NY 10019; (212) 397-9686. Checkin between 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. everyday. email 1291@1291.com Rates may vary depending on season. Additional charges (tax, surcharge, extras) applicable depending on duration of stay, choice of room/dorm/suite and number of guests. Web: www.1291.com