MetaChat - Vacation Hangover

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01 August 2010

Vacation Hangover I'm feeling disappointed. →[More:]
I think it's mostly because though the vacation had some really good parts, there's always angst when you visit your family. My sister's life is in a shambles, my parents tend to be quote critical, I spent too much money, the long road trip aspect was stressful, and now I have to unpack and get back to reality. I don't feel relaxed.

Immediately: The lawn needs badly to be mowed, but it's too wet. I'm scared to check out what deer damage happened to the garden while I was gone.

Long term: I have tons of projects I'd like (or need) to do, but I haven't gotten around to them because the immediate household needs trump the rest. I'm also avoiding some of the less desirable/enjoyable things. For that matter, I'm avoiding some things that are (or at least have the potential to be) pleasurable, because they just seem like a pain. That can't be good.

Anyway, does anyone else get vacation hangover? How do you deal?

post by: Stewriffic at: 09:32 | 5 comments

Well, the first thing that jumps out at me is that you used the words "visit family" in the same sentence as "vacation". Travel to see family, in my book, does not a vacation make. Don't get me wrong, I love my family, and visiting certain family can seem vacation-like, but most family, especially my nuclear unit, more closely resembles low-grade torture. It sucks to come home and have so much to do when you aren't feeling relaxed and recharged. Leave the grass, it is too wet. Try to find something at least marginally satisfying for a little while, and leave the other stuff for later. Family "vacations" can be tough and suck the life right out of you. As your doctor, I recommend a pint of Ben & Jerry's and the Bridezilla marathon (or other guilty pleasure). Take as needed.

posted by msali 01 August | 10:23

What msali said. I love my family (and my in-laws) but visiting them doesn't count as vacation.

posted by octothorpe 01 August | 11:48

Yeah, I went for pizza, salad, and taking pictures of the damage deer are doing to my garden. Am leaving the grass and weeds.

I think I'll turn down the Thanksgiving vacation offer, too, as it comes with two parents, a sister, and three nephews.

posted by Stewriffic 01 August | 12:13

I'm with you, Stewriffic. We took two weeks and drove up to New York. Stayed with my mom in Buffalo for a few days.... and it almost killed me. She is getting ever-more so controlling in her old age. I enjoyed seeing other family- my brother and his wife, my aunt whose husband recently passed. She was always one of my favorite aunts. But by the time we left for Albany to see Mrs. Doohickie's family, it was time to leave.

Is it terrible that I had much more fun with my wife's family than with mine?

posted by Doohickie 03 August | 21:35

I don't think it's terrible at all. I know people often talk about in-laws as being hellish, but there's also a distance you have that allows you to retreat if necessary. Also, you don't have (as much of)the baggage and unhealthy patterns. At least that's how it works with me.

I'm sorry about your aunt's husband. My aunt's husband died recently, too, and one of the oddest parts of this visit was the dead-relative tour as we drove past the cemetery where many of my maternal relatives are. "Here's where Uncle Evan was buried this spring. No, Lewis actually went back to St. Louis when he died because he already had a plot next to his first wife. But your grandpa is buried in this area, and your great uncle harry is over there..."

I think my grandma listed about 20 different people.

posted by Stewriffic 04 August | 09:31

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