missypie

I thought I had avoided it, but having been home from Paris 17 days, post vacation depression has finally hit me hard. Since my husband and I were on vacation with our three children, it's actually more a longing for the experiences I didn't have...I yearn to walk the streets of Paris and go into shops and museums and churches and linger as long as I want to and to eat at nice restaurants that don't welcome children! (It doesn't help that the weather is perfect outside and I'm in a high rise office building reading long documents.)

Anybody else longing for a trip?

kaudrey

I get past that by starting to plan my next trip!

Karen

amyb

Exactly! I've been home from Italy 2 weeks today, and I'm already planning my next for the fall. That's the only way to get through this!

missypie

Both sets of parents are celebrating 50th wedding anniversaries this summer, so those will be our summer trips. Next year's Spring Break falls on a week that we can't leave town. Next summer I have promised the kids that we'll get to Disneyworld (for the fist time ever). So that leaves me planning a trip for 2006...doesn't do much for my depression!

AGM_Cape_Cod

Boy, your depression didn't kick in until 17 days after you got back? The only way my husband got me on the plane (and I was walking backwards the whole time) is because Air France upgraded us. We are discussing going back to Provence next June to see what it is like in full bloom. Of course we hope to hit the lottery and return sooner!

missypie

Remember, I was traveling with three children...9 days 24/7 with three children in a small apartment, watching them like hawks everywhere we went, listening to them complain about having to visit museums and churches (they were troopers, but their tolerance for museums and churches was kid-sized), having to choose a restaurant based on what they were willing to eat...it was a good trip, but it was a lot of work...now I want a VACATION.

Margie

I feel your pain. I would also advise planning your next adventure, but when you say it won't be until 2006, I see how that could be depressing.

How about a quick get a way on one of the school breaks - leaving the children at home of course - ha ha ha. Virgin Vacations and gotoday.com have some fabulous prices on 3 day (too short but if you are desperate . .) 5 day 7 day etc. deals for hotels & airfare. I see them and wonder why we don't have something planned ourselves.

In the meantime, get a nice bottle of French wine, a baguette, some very good cheese, look at your photos and try to console yourself!

RufusTFirefly

Vacationing is a lot more fun than everyday life. Few responsibilities; not worried about the furnace conking out; no shoveling snow to get the car out of the garage and head to work; not having to deal with the pointy haired boss. But most of us can't earn a living vacationing.

missypie

Good idea, Margie...a new high end grocery/gourmet food store has opened not too far from us...I've been thinking of checking it out and searching for the perfect goat cheese for a warm goat cheese salad.

RufusTFirefly

I guess we're lucky to live in a town and neighborhood we enjoy with lots of friends. We love to travel, and we love to come home.

kismetchimera

I feel your pain missypie..it always happens to me everytime i go back to my Beloved Europe..
Travelling with children is not easy, especiallywhen you have 3..

I have taken my grandchildren to Europe since they were 7 years old..of course, one at time, now the oldest is 12 and she will be my travelling companion next year..

Dont worry, eventually the kids grow up and then you will have an opportunity to real enjoy visiting foreign countries..

kismetchimera

oopps, I wanted to say I come back, not go ....

Dallas

Missypie, how do you make your warm, goat cheese salad? Would you share the recipe, pleasssssse.

clehrman

Hi Missypie:

We certainly feel your pain - we ALWAYS miss Europe (esp. Paris for me, London for hubby). Sometimes the pangs are terrible . . .

However, my husband started keeping a journal - which we post online for others to enjoy - and this really helps with the longing. Maybe it will help you . . .

And do start planning your next trip (even if it seems like lightyears away).

Ciao,
Carol
www.davidandcarol.com

mullemeyer

My wife and I were married last year in Ravello, Italy April 11th 2003. I'm missing our month in Italy terribly. Now we're coming up on our first anniversary and I've begun emailing my wife at her work daily "what we did a year ago" pictures from our honeymoon. Now we relive our awesome adventure day by day. If I'm going to be missing Italy this much I want her to suffer too!!! We're planning a return trip in 2006 - but it's soooo far away.

OReilly

Missypie:

Perhaps you could plan a trip all on your own: a singleton in Paris? Your future plans are all about family, other people's dreams. What about your own dreams?

Could you get away for a long weekend, on your own, in October or November? From the East coast, you could fly Thursday night and have Friday, Saturday, Sunday and even Monday and be back with your family on Tuesday afternoon. Is this so much to ask of your family?

You already know about the excellent advice on this forum, for cheap eats and sleeps in Paris, so you can do it on a budget. If you monitor the airline websites, you can get low airfares. You could construct a budget and ask all your extended family (husband, kids and parents) for this weekend away alone as a gift for Christmas, birthday, Mother's day etc, for the rest of your life, if necessary.

I have read some of your posts and am certain that a weekend alone in Paris would suit you very well. I have been in Paris at least 20 times and, for me, it has never lost its magic. I have been there with husband, sisters, nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues and, on my own, by myself.

I have to tell you, much as I love sharing Paris with those I love, there is nothing better than the "selfish" Paris; being on your own, doing as you please and exploring this magnificent city as a lone traveler.

Regards .. Ger

kismetchimera

Good idea OReilly, but is not very practical..When you are a mom with young children, is not very easy to just take off by yourself to Paris even for a couples of days.
Also it can be pretty expensive if a family has a tight budget...

HeatherH

PVD has hit me too. I was really surprised, when we first got back, I wasn't really all that upset. Now though, 16 days later, all of that rush to get things done (that I put off doing before I left) is over, and I am SAD! My next trip (Paris, solo!) is SOOOO far away, not til next March, possibly February. Plus, I am really starting to question my idea of going alone! I need therapy! (But only if it is Retail or Travel!)

missypie

....sitting here eating my fast food fries with mayonaise...last night we bought goat cheese and Orangina at the grocery store.