Sunset at our favorite beach.
As our long-awaited annual beach vacation comes to a close, I’m feeling homesick. Not to be ungrateful, but I’m looking forward to being in my own home. I miss my cat. My friends, who moved from our old neighborhood in Palm Springs to a mile away in Arizona, have texted and asked when we’ll be back with “We miss you!”
All year long, I’ve looked forward to our weeks out of the heat, at the beach. I guess I didn’t feel “vacationy” with all the anxiety of health issues with our family. I spent the first two weeks in a state of constant worry.
Once relief hit us — that our future DIL will be okay — and COVID also had come and gone with our children, we finally relaxed.
But, then four days in a row, once our fear was gone, we accepted invitations with friends. We hadn’t felt like socializing until things settled down. Four days in a row was way too much for introverted me. We said no to friends yesterday and today. We spent evenings until sunset enjoying a beach walk, sitting until the sun set, and being quiet. Just what my soul needed.
If there’s no place like home, I wish I could click my heels three times and be home — without the nine-hour drive!
When you are on vacation, do you look forward to returning home — or do you want vacation to last longer?
What a great question. I love, love, love the “coming home”. Vacations are wonderful but they can be stressful — and certainly you have endured so much of that. I love that you declined some invitations so you could enjoy and relax before you headed home. Thank you for the stunning beach pic…and for all the pics and info during your trip. Hugs to you and the family! 🥰
It has been a stressful vacation, but the last few days have been relaxing. I find it interesting that you love coming home, too!
I sure do. So glad you were able to catch your breath and enjoy yourself before you headed home. 🥰
Me too! We have a couple more days to enjoy before heading home. I plan on getting the boogie board back out!
Oh…Oh…Oh…I thought you were already home. Boogie board!!!! Yay! Try to get some action shots. Super impressive. xoxoxox! 😎
I watched a woman older than me boogie boarding for more than an hour last night, while I sat and read. I thought I really need to get out there, out of my comfort zone before we leave!
Yes, yes, yes! I’ll be with you vicariously! 😎
It makes me feel young, but it’s a bit scary too! I never used to feel the scary part.
Be safe AND have fun! 😎
💕
For me, it depends on where vacation is and where home is. I love the beach, and I adore the mountains. I also relish being with family. If vacation includes those things, and home does not, I’d just as soon stay on vacation. But now that home is in the mountains (and when it used to be at the beach) I don’t really have any reason to vacay except to visit people- and introverted me also needs my space, like you mentioned, so I look forward to home!
Have a safe trip back and enjoy settling back into “normal”!
I agree with you that I love being with family. My son and Buff were supposed to stay with us for a week. Then my daughter for a long weekend. But instead, we worried about them! We have a couple days left of quiet time at the beach and then the long drive home.
We’re heading to visit family next week near Sacramento. As happy as I’ll be to see them, I’ll be ready to come home. I always breathe easier after we cross the state line back into AZ, and it just gets better and better as we climb up in altitude! 😉. These days, I find myself packing for a trip and already looking forward to the unpacking on the other side! Hahaha!
I know exactly what you mean crossing the state line into Arizona! I feel free 😊. Have a fun and safe trip.
Thank you, my friend!
I think there’s most often a small longing to get back home, to be in a familiar place, to have your things and known comforts again. We call places home for a reason- it tends to be our safe place so when you couple a vacation with lots of stress you really need to know home is waiting. Glad all the news continues to be good for Buff 🙂
You described what I’m feeling perfectly. Buff went home yesterday and they are waiting for pathology news.
I love coming back home too. I try to change the sheets on my bed before I go so that when I fold back in after vacation, it feels extra cozy. I’m glad the stress of the health issues receded so you could enjoy a bit. But I’m with you, we need a mix of being with others and being alone, being away and being home!
I love the idea of coming home to clean sheets! Great idea. I have to set some boundaries of socializing with friends and alone times.
I think both the going on a vacation and coming home are the best parts of the whole process. I’m glad you got to really relax at least a few days of your vacation.
It’s been nice not to worry and have a few days to relax.
That’s great.
It depends on where the Vacation is. There are times I will visit and like a place so much I think of moving there. But I always want to get home to my cats.
That’s me. I have always wanted to live here in the Santa Barbara area, but my cat is waiting for me.
Yes, no matter how fantastical a vacay is at the time, I always find myself ready to go home by the end of it. Especially is the vacay is busy….sort of the opposite of a vacation. Sightseeing and taking in the culture is fun, but going all the time is exhausting. Give me sunsets with a glass of wine by a beach and I’m a happy girl.
I agree with you. Too busy is not a vacation. We’ve spent the last three evenings at the beach watching the sunset.
I love traveling but I always love coming home to my space. It’s familiar and somehow I feel swaddled by my home in a way no other place has ever felt like that for me. So glad the DIL is on the mend and the health scare has passed. And I’m totally with you on the socializing, I need about three nights alone for every night out. I know, you’re feeling sorry for Larry! Hugs, C
Ha! We may go back home a day early. We’re both missing home and everyone around us here is getting COVID! We had dinner plans cancelled and today a lunch cancelled because of COVID. Thank you for the kind thoughts about our DIL to be. We’re waiting for pathology to see if she needs chemo.
Keep us posted! Praying for her 💕
I will. It could be another week before they get results back. Thank you for your prayers!
Oh, it sounds like you’ve been on a roller coaster ride of a vacation! Glad to hear everyone is well. Yes, sometimes we all need a vacation from our vacations! 😎😎
It has not been a relaxing time, except for the last couple days. We are waiting to hear if our future DIL needs chemo. That may be another week until we know. We’re ready to head home!
Those kind of waits are the hardest. So sorry that you’re going through this and praying for good news. Sending positive thoughts your way!
Thank you! I am so grateful for all prayers. The surgery went so much better than expected, it’s amazing. It definitely makes me believe in the power of prayer.
When you are on vacation, do you look forward to returning home — or do you want vacation to last longer? I look forward to returning home. I don’t truly consider a vacation finished until I’m back in my own bed again, able to reflect back on what fun we had.
That’s where I’m at right now. I want to be home in my own bed with my cat! We’e leaving a day early because there seems to be a COVID outbreak here and we’d rather avoid it, if possible.
What a beautiful photo. I am glad you were able to relax and let go of your worries, so you could enjoy your vacation. Sunset walks sounds perfect.
Typically I am ready to go back home, even after fun vacations! Getting back to a normal routine., and yes, seeing my dogs. 🙂 <3
Thank you! We found the evenings our favorite at the beach, because most people were gone, the sun isn’t harsh and of course sunsets! I’m anxious to see my cat Olive.
Yes, love the beach when there is isn’t a lot of people around. As a teenager I didn’t care about crowds of people on the beach but now that I am older…I love the solitude. 🥰
That’s exactly how I felt as a teen and I love the solitude now.
💕
That’s a really beautiful sunset! I tend to get really settled in on vacations and not want to return home. I’ve actually cried a few times when leaving a place I know we might never return to again, like Paris or Switzerland. I do love my routine, but vacations never ever last long enough for me. I need months I think!
I’ve never been to Europe. Maybe I’d cry leaving Paris or Switzerland. This year I’m anxious to be home. I think it was the worry about our DIL.
That’s very understandable. I’m glad she’s doing better. I’d have felt the same way.
Surgery went better than expected. We’re all feeling so relieved.
I’m so glad to hear that.
👍🏼
That sunset is gorgeous, and I agree, there’s no place like home. It’s always fun to get away, but feels good to come home again.
I agree! We’re an hour away from home during an eight hour drive. I can’t wait!