I love to travel. To see new places, get a break from the regular routine.
Whether it’s for work, for a blog conference, a brand trip, a family vacation, or visiting family: I look forward to it and enjoy it.
But I’m always, always ready to be home by the end of the trip.
And this past week, I think I may have overdone it.
Because by yesterday morning, I not only was ready to be home, I was anxiously looking around for some sort of magic button that would immediately transport me home.
I’d taken the boys to my family last week and left them there while I flew to BlogHer, allowing my parents the time with them that they’d been asking for and so Hubs wouldn’t have to take off time from work while I was away. Plus, we usually make a trip to see my family anyway, so why not combine the two trips?
But as much as I loved BlogHer, each day had about a week’s worth of activity crammed into it. So by the end of the four days, I felt like I’d been gone for a month.
And yet, at the end, I wasn’t heading home to NC, I was headed back to PA to get my boys and visit some more.
I loved being able to see my family and especially to squish on my newest niece.
Really, I didn’t have a date when I absolutely had to get back. As long as I had my computer, I could theoretically get work done there. So why not extend the visit? I had friends that I really wanted to see, especially my friend I’ve known the longest(trying to refrain from saying “my oldest friend” since we aren’t old). And I could spend more time with my family.
But by yesterday morning, the thought of being away from home, from Hubs, from a regular routine(where I could actually get work done instead of just theoretically), from being where I could curl up with my boys in our sunroom, or where I could lock a door and know no one would come barging in… it was overwhelming and I wanted home right now.
So, instead of waiting even one more day and leaving after a good night’s rest, I threw all of our stuff in the back of the van in a fashion that I’m sure I’ll regret this morning when I go to unpack and we left yesterday afternoon, getting back home in the middle of the night.
I’m exhausted right now and I probably left the wrong impression behind, like I was upset or something. I truly wasn’t- I just wanted home. I wanted it so badly that every single thing was making me stabby, things that really don’t bother me but the irritation of not being home was seeping through my pores, making it seem like I hated the world.
Anxiety was taking over and a restlessness that meant I couldn’t enjoy myself where I was.
It was time for home.
And I’m so glad that I’m back here. I launched myself at Hubs, practically crying I was so happy to see him. Sent the kids off to bed and curled up on my own bed and contentedly fell asleep(okay, passed out from exhaustion).
It felt so good to wake up this morning with Hubs beside me, the kids tucked into their own beds, nothing on the agenda except for work, being back to our regular routine. Even if I might end up taking a nap the second I press publish on this post- a 10 hour drive ending in the middle of the night after such a long time away is no joke.
There truly is no place like home. I’m like Dorothy, only forget the ruby slippers and hand me my flip flops: this beach girl is home.
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I know exactly what you mean! I love going away on adventures, but there is *nothing* like coming back home to comfies and routine and your own bed. 🙂
I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to see my own bed!
I love being home…there is just something about it. The getaway and distraction is great but home is even better. I would have completely done what you did. Glad to see you’re happy at home. Now, don’t unpack the car until you have had a few cups of coffee first – it might scare you 😉
I’m convinced I probably left something behind, but at this moment- I just don’t care!
I love that feeling of being home after being away for a while…or even a day. It renews my soul, but that is only when arriving home to a clean house. 😉
Thankfully, the house was clean. I may have dramatically threatened Hubs about that- since it was just him at home and no kids, there was no excuse!
That is the best description of BlogHer. So much crammed in that it did feel like a month. I couldn’t wait to get home, too and I can’t imagine a 10 hour drive after a weekend that felt like a month and an extended family visit. I get all stabby and hating the world, too when I am away from home for too long. Looking forward to linking up tomorrow (a much harder post to write than just the recaps of this weekend).
It really did feel like it was so long- mostly in a good way, but OMG, sitting in the airport in Chicago, I wanted to start crying because I was flying back to PA instead of NC.
Home is good! I was glad to be home after BlogHer too but I wasn’t looking forward to (and still not) to all the laundry and cleaning that needs to be done. Thankfully, they didn’t burn one of my pans again while I was gone.
I warned Hubs that he better have the house clean the way I left it when I got back, so it was just unpacking and my own laundry I had to do!
I sooo hear ya! Our last trip to Oregon to see hubby’s family was wonderful. And even going home wasn’t to bad until our first flight ended and we learned that due to weather we could leave on our second flight until the next day!
No matter how beautiful other places my be, or how much we are enjoying family, home is truly the best place to be in the end!
Exactly. I love being back home!
There really is no place like home! I always feel relieved to be in my own space, even if it is a little crazy. I’m glad you made it home in one piece!
It’s definitely a little crazy- but I’m so glad to be back home!
There really is no place like home, it’s our comfort zone and its ours. That last day before a trip ends is the worst for me…all I think about is being at home instead of where I am.
Same here. I start wondering why I hadn’t cut my trip a day short.
Ya See? This is why I love this blogging world so much… and YOU! I absolutely get you. I would have done the very SAME THING!! Oh Shell, we are so much alike.
I am so glad you got home safely and woke up in your own bed… in your own home.
There’s nothing sweeter after being gone.
xo Blogging is the best! 🙂 And yes, it felt AMAZING to be back here!
I completely feel you on this! I don’t understand how people take 2 week vacations because I really never want to be away from home for any more than a week at a time. When we took the kids to the Grandparents’ in Oregon, we stayed 4 days and left the kids for 10 more. It was great, of course, to have the kid-free time, but by the time we drove halfway back to meet my FIL to hand the kids back to us, had lunch and got back on the road for home, I was so antsy to just GET HOME. Was so done with road trips! Home, and the 5 mile radius we usually exist in is my comfort zone.
I don’t know if I could take a vacation that long. I’d feel like I was completely out of my comfort zone. A few days I’m okay with but longer, I’m just done!
Amen! I’ve always said that you need to allot a day after vacation to recover from vacation. It seems so fun and exciting to travel around, but the reality is, I just want to sleep in my own bed and wander into my kitchen at 2 a.m. for a drink of lemonade. 🙂
YES! I came home and got sick, which forced me to take that day to rest.
Welcome home! Too bad we can’t travel by map like the muppets!
OMG, I love it!
It was exhausting, wasn’t it? I live in Chicago and by the end of it I missed my kids like crazy!
And it was great meeting you in person. 🙂
It was so much crammed into a few days that it felt longer! Glad we got to meet. xo
I am a total home body so I get it!!
Although I will say I’m disappointed I missed seeing you again!
I know! I really wanted to see you and thought about just showing up on your doorstep on that last day. But then I got all emotional and just wanted to be home.
That’s why they came up with that phrase, “Home is where the heart is.”
And home is always so much more comfortable.
It really is more comfortable.
I understand completely. It sounds to me like you’re an introvert. As an introvert myself, I always try to schedule a day off between returning from vacation and going back to the normal routine (be that work or whatever). This usually means I try to get home on a Friday or Saturday and then take it easy for the rest of the weekend.
I’m very much an introvert(wrote all about it last week!).
Ah… what’s it like to live near a beach? 🙂 This Wisconsin girl has no clue. I hope you get some much-needed rest.
I love being near the beach, though we haven’t gone in the water at all this year b/c there have been so many drownings. Yet there is still something about being near the water that is comforting.
I totally get it. We make our homes our comfort zones so it only makes sense that you were ready to get back to yours! I’m glad you had fun though =)
So much fun but I’m SO HAPPY to be back home!
Yes! I love my bed. I also love my schedule and being able to watch MY TV shows. I’m visiting my parents now and they don’t watch what I watch. I just have to hope my DVR at home is working.
My dvr was practically bursting by the time I got back. All I wanted to do was zone out and catch up on everything.
I SO understand what you mean. When I’ve been away for a time, the urge to be home is HUGE.
It hit me so hard. I was a mess.
Oh I hear you! We were gone for 2 weeks and even though I had my husband and kids with me, by 8 days into it I started to feel ready to get home. There is no place like it.
Two weeks is a long time!
I totally get that and can relate. Home provides stability, comfort, and routine. As an Introvert, my home serves as my home base. As much as other places might be “homey” or nice, they aren’t HOME. When I reach my point of over-stimulation, I need to go home and I need to do it ASAP. That’s how it works (for me). I can then restore my energy and I immediately feel better once home. I can relax and get back to life and that feels good to me.
Glad you are home!
Yes. Introverts unite (separately).
There is definitely nothing quite like home. Vacations and trips, no matter how fun usually by the end I am always ready to get home.
Exactly. Even though I did have a lot of fun, I just needed back home!
I LOVE to travel, but I think one of the best parts is coming home! There really is no place like. I love the change and excitement of travel, but I love the structure and routine too that only a home will provide. And coming home to family after you have been apart? Even better!
Sometimes I truly feel like you read my mind. I’m craving home like whoa right now. It’s been so long since I’ve had routine and normalcy. The entire month of July was traveling. It’s actually been only 4 days of non traveling so far. But i’m not really “home” yet in fact I don’t know how long it will be until I feel like I have a real home again.
I understand this. I can relate,, Shell.