I love traveling
AND: I love coming home!
I don’t love the state of our house right now (summary: chaos) but I’ve decided I will be patient about that and enjoy the fact that I have 3 days at home before work really starts up again and a week+ before school routines set in — A & C have partial days on Friday as they are orienting to new levels; school starts in earnest on 8/21.
I DO love the fresh start energy that coming home from a long trip brings, and it is only compounded by the fact that it’s also back to school season. (I was about to say that Q4 is my favorite quintile, but then I realized I really do love Q1. Also Q5 . . .).
I had a highly productive plane ride home, nestled between A & C who were both playing iPad games for 98% of flying time. I did some work + brainstorming for Best Laid Plans Live (less than 3 months to go!) and then spent 2+ hour crafting my Q4 goals and thinking through our routines with the impending activity schedule changes.
I am also incredibly motivated to continue with our declutter, albeit intimidated by the post-trip/post-camp mess.
TODAY
✅ Run – transition back to the heat was not as bad as I feared. This has been a majorly light running week – after getting in 43 miles my first week of vac, the second week I only ran Weds and took Mon/Tue/Thur off due to not feeling great and having some nagging low-level pain (in groin area, with adduction – maybe start of some mild adductor tendinitis). Thankfully it was much better today, almost undetectable for the first time in a while.
❏ Grocery restock – someone left the fridge slightly open and we had a minor disaster — we had to discard almost everything in the fridge and (melted) freezer. This was sad and I HATED to see the waste, but it is what is, and I’m embracing the fact that I got rid of old odds + ends (not the way I wanted to, but still) and got to clean off the shelves.
❏ Spend 1 hr on email catchup
❏ Spend 1 hr on EPIC triage
❏ Work on YNAB catchup
❏ Make some progress on laundry/unpacking/house (but I’m not delusional, this isn’t getting finished today!)
❏ NAP because I slept about 5 hours last night and I need it.
PS: Lahaina weighing on my heart; we stayed there on our honeymoon in 2006 and I’ve wanted to go back ever since. Donated here as recommended by the SF Chronicle; they also include other giving options in the article.
7 Comments
Oh no! Our fridge is making rattling noises and I’m hoping we will notice quickly when it goes! Good opportunity to declare food bankruptcy and get rid of all the old condiments etc.
I finally got some fresh start energy today after a series of visitors, T’s birthday and a weekday party, -and a generally scattered schedule. Husband and kid were off to the beach and I cranked out about 80% of my teaching planning and caught up on laundry (taking advantage of sun/wind to get it all dry on the line) T goes back to school on Wednesday so next week is normalish for me. Looking forward to getting some longer cycle rides after drop off etc.
I go to pack up my office/flat next Sunday and last day at current job is on the 31st. Trying to start the semester feeling a bit ahead of the game, which is what I say every year but my teaching load is lighter this year so I feel more optimistic this is achievable.
Oh no about the fridge and freezer!! Gah! That is truly a fresh start I guess since you’ll be replenishing everything!
I think loving travel and loving coming back is truly the best of both worlds. I was super depressed when I came back from a week in Paris in 2011 and it prompted me to make some big changes (I rented out my suburban condo and rented downtown in an area where I could have the pedestrian lifestyle I briefly experienced in Paris). I just got back from a trip too and feel energized and reinvigorated so it was just what I needed!
I am so very sad about the devastation in Lahaina as well. We honeymooned just north of there on Napili Bay in 2017 so ate most of our meals in Lahaina.
Are the kids home with you today while you do all of this? Or is your nanny there?
kids are home and nanny is sick 🙁
Also, I am failing. lol. (I got some stuff done but . . . not the whole list and I still need a nap!)
I did do YNAB. Had too much anxiety about all the vac expenses and needed some clarity around the budget. (Summary: no more fun for a while . . . jk but sort of.)
I needed this post. I, too, need a trip reset this week after 10 days in Poland visiting a good friend. It was just me this time so not much laundry and the house has been freshened up yesterday (by me). It seemed to smell musty but what do I know?… Also would like to reflect upon Q3 /plan for Q4. Ugh also need to look at our vacation expenses (shudder).
Yes, travel is great but it’s also great to come home (esp. to your own bed ;)). Sounds like you got a lot of planning ahead done to make the re-entry a little smoother.
I am so sad about Maui. It’s so devastating. I donated to the same organization yesterday. I