Post Vacation Blues

[CopperTex]

Has anyone experienced this? I'm sure many of you have. It's a first for me. I was going about my normal, day-to-day life. Pretty happy with work, home, etc. Then last week I went on a 250 mile bike ride through MO with a group of other like-minded folks. Since coming home Saturday, I've had a very hard time adjusting to life at home. I really experienced what it would be like to have the freedom I seek - now, back to reality. I feel an ache in my heart that wasn't there before. Does this feeling pass with time? It must, but it makes me worried to take another fabulous trip since the adjustment back home as been so difficult. BTW, I haven't experienced this on other trips to DC, NYC, Disney with the kids, etc. that were just going spot to spot. Something about the freedom, beauty, being away from technology, and seeing A LOT of retired folk traveling the country having amazing adventures really resonated with me.

[Dollar Slice]

Yes, I used to get this a lot. For years almost every trip I took was to NYC. Weekends, holidays, sometimes a whole week. It hurt to come home more and more every time. It would always fade with time, but I think that ache gives you more incentive to change your life. I ended up going through a lot of stress and expense to move to Manhattan. It's hard to live here in a lot of ways, but it's amazing to live in the place that makes me feel like that. Like there's an exciting adventure waiting to happen as soon as you step out the door. Like you're free to go anywhere and do anything. I got that rush every time I stepped out the front door of my building for months after moving here. :-) 

I think that feeling is what drives a lot of people to FIRE.

[tooqk4u22]

+1000

Vacations like that (and frankly every figgin' Sunday) are why I want to RE.  My resolve is weak for no apparent reason but I am working on it.  The sense of dread starts half way through vacation and on Saturday afternoons.

Echoed - Sunday nights are the worst and its bad when on vacation Wednesday morning comes and you have thought that "Shit, my vacation is almost over".   

[gliderpilot567]

Yup.

I pretty much live for weekends. On Saturday and Sunday, I wake up 2 hours earlier than on work days because I get more weekend that way!

Sunday nights aren't so bad, but Monday mornings absolutely suck.

[honeybbq]

Every time I'm not at work... yeah.

[Trudie]

I think what you're experiencing is normal, but I think one aspect you mentioned -- being able to spend time with "like minded folks" -- is a big key to your happiness.

We just returned from a vacation to Ireland.  Part of the time we traveled on our own, and part of the time we were with a group of "like minded folks."  I really liked traveling with others... we still had our free time but we had discussions about lots of different things (including retirement, travel, books, cooking) and enjoyed my time spent in the company of others sharing the experience.  Now that I am back at work and in my day to day routine I think it's apparent that I don't enjoy many of the people I'm forced to spend time with at work.  But it has motivated me to make time for those I do enjoy (before retirement), to try to see the best in people that I don't have a lot in common with, and to make forging good relationships a priority... now and in the future.

[BuzzardsBay]

I know exactly how you feel.  I try to make myself feel better by starting to plan the next fun thing as soon as possible.  Even if it isn't going to be for a while.  The anticipation helps.