I too have the recurring "forgot my passport" or "passport expired" dreams!

I don't panic, but I tend to not be able to sleep well in the days before a European trip (but I guess I sleep long enough to have the "forgot my passport" nightmare). When that happens I just tell myself that it will be easier to sleep on the plane.

When I travel in the US, I'm pretty relaxed, because as long as I have my ID and a credit card, I really CAN get whatever I forget. It's a little more intimidating to think of having to shop for whatever you forgot in a foreign language/country.

I have those dreams too but in mine, I somehow got into Europe, although I forgot my passport, money, credit cards, suitcase and ticket home!! It IS hard to go back to sleep after that. LOL!!

Ivy....just go and enjoy! If you have your ticket and your passport, there's absolutely nothing else you *need* to worry about to go on the trip. I worry about my four-pawed critter as well, but remind yourself that he's survived numerous trips before this one! And just repeat to yourself "It'll all be fine"...especially once you see the beauty awaiting you!

Enjoy Florence and Venice, have a gelato for us all, and don't forget a trip report when you return!

More anxiety than panic; I'm already getting nervous about leaving our cats next September, partly because our long-time sitters moved away. And I've begun having the "It's time to leave and I forgot to pack!!!" dreams.

I will defintely post a trip report! and since this is the first time we're using a digital camera, maybe I can include some pics too!

Travel is my passion also and I SO look forward to the next one but yes I do get panic attacks, mostly about leaving my two cats who are 14 years old. For short trips, a friend comes in every day to play with them and check on them, feed them; if longer than 5 days someone has to stay in the house with them which usually means my poor mother puts her own dog in a kennel in PA and comes to FL to cat sit!! Once I got home from Venice to find the friend who was watching them had let the toilet run - there was 2 inches of water on the floor and the cats dishes were floating atop their little mat on the water!! Not a fun coming home!! (Different friend does it now!). But I just prepare for a trip by 'affirming' everything will go smoothly, from getting there and home safely to getting the luggage there safely, to being on time, to taking care of the cats and the house. But I have done the will thing and my friends have keys and I write out exhaustive directions for taking care of the cats... I am a bit of a control freak - comes from childhood medical procedures - I had not control over what was done to me, therefore I over plan everything. Not impulsive at all.

I usually have a little bit of panic, but I always work through it and forget about it once I leave. The only time I actually gave into it was when I was supposed to leave a few days after 9/11. Then the reasons for panicking seemed a little more realistic. I know now it would have been OK, but all kinds of dire things were going through my mind.

Just wondering if the source of some of the panic isn't perhaps from an over focus on the trip, so much effort and energy in the planning, the fear that some aspect might be overlooked.

Some options to help might be to travel more often, perhaps shorter trips, where you have to plan less, or simply deciding to make the next trip more informal, with less decisions beforehand, less plans, less to do. Taking some of the pressure off to have the so-called perfect trip.

Some speak of control, or losing it, as though they believe they have life under control at home. That isn't a healthy way to perceive life. It really isn't factual.

Oh, you read my mind. I leave Wednesday and am having all those thoughts. I should be picking up laundry, packing and getting my travel documents together. I seemed to not be able to move on it so I decided to put if off and read Fodors.

It is good to get all this feedback. I have a HUGE bout of guilt about everything before I go. Spending money, leaving family, taking off work etc. which I am in the midst of. I do not know anyone, friends or family that share my travel passion so I get those "looks" when I mention another trip. I will say that my husband is supportive and always encourages me to go and enjoy myself. He shares a trip with me about once a year but would rather stay home and watch the dog and cat. We have a cabin fishing trip planned soon with our friends, that is his idea of travel.

I had a really bad winter of asthma. The worst ever for me. At times I wondered if I would ever get well enough to want to do things again.
Thank goodness I do and am getting back into my routine.

I am really looking forward to Provence. I did not go to Europe until I was 40 so I must catch up!

ggnga, you and I must be married to the same man. He likes overseas travel occasionally, (like every 5 years) and we usually do a short domestic trip together every year. But his idea of a perfect vacation is endless fishing. I can fish for an hour then I'm ready to do something else. I have tried to tell him that there's a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore looking like an idiot, but he doesn't believe me. ;-) But he is great about encouraging me to go, as long as I don't tell him not to go fishing, so everything works out fine.

Like you, I do not have any friends who share my passion for travel, and I also hate the looks and the comments I get when people learn that I'm going on yet another trip to Europe. And I have asthma too!! I think you are my long lost twin sister....

Good to know that I am not alone!
When I am travelling alone I always wonder some days before the rip why I am so crazy to do something like that.
Even more as I am the only girl I know who does this regulary, and I am getting the feeling some people think I am really strange.
I think about all the dangers and would like to cancel the whole thing...what I haven`t done one time, and hopefully I will never do as travelling brings really something to my live.