Ending your vacation well

Over the years I've learned that setting up the end of my vacation and re-entry into the real world makes my vacation much more enjoyable. If I've got a rough re-entry planned, it kind of hangs over my head just a little during my trip. Knowing I've set myself up for a good end to my vacation makes me dread the end less and the transition back to my regular life less jarring. It takes some planning and effort beforehand, the peace of mind it brings me is well worth it.

Here are some specifics of what I do:

When possible, I take some extra time when I return. I try not to go back to work right away, even if it means cutting my travel back a day to have a day at home before going to work. Having that one day means I can unpack, do my wash, buy groceries, go through the mail, clear the Tivo, prepare food and clothing for the next day, check my schedule, etc. I have taken trips and returned late the night before having to go to work, and while I would never turn down a trip that required this, I do find the extra time at the end of the trip helps.

Create a welcoming home environment to return to. I clean the house, change the sheets, put out fresh towels, do all the wash, throw away any food that may spoil, take the trash out, etc. I try to make sure not to leave my house looking like a bomb went off due to a last minute packing frenzy. After staying in a hotel or with a kind host/ess, I find it depressing to return to a messy house. On the other hand, I find it a great joy to open the door and see a spotless, neat house waiting for me. It gives me a sense of appreciation for my house, as in "wow, I live here, aren't I lucky."

Anticipate any needs you will have right away upon your return. Have a prescription to pick up? Need cream for your coffee or like fresh OJ in the morning? Do you have enough pet food? Need directions for an appointment? I try not to have any urgent chores or errands that need to be taken care of immediately upon my return. If we don't take the dogs with us, we board them at a cage-free kennel. After many days of constant romping with other dogs they are pretty stinky when we pick them up. I make sure to pick them up at a time when we can bathe them before heading home.

One thing I learned quite by accident on this trip was to think about meals upon my return. Usually I return to a house that has no fresh fruit or vegetables in it, and often very little perishable food in general. It makes for a disappointing first meal home unless I run right out for groceries and cook something. We sometimes get takeout food to extend the feeling of vacation for one more night. For our last trip, I had a tasty, healthy pasta dish in my freezer ready to be eaten with just a quick heating. I didn't do it on purpose - I had made the dish a few days before we left and ended up freezing some of it to keep it from spoiling. It was really nice to have a hearty, vegetable-rich meal waiting when we got home hungry and tired from the airport. I may try to do this for future trips, but I would try to do it well before hand by just making a double batch of something rather than doing is specifically as part of travel preparation.

What makes for an easy end to a vacation will be very different from person to person and will depend on that person's lifestyle. I have found the concept really helpful in increasing my enjoyment of my vacations.