Monday, September 21, 2009

The Aftermath



Drain Bramage… I mean, Brain Damage. That’s what I feel like I have after a trip. Be it nationals, a vacation, or a retreat, I come home feeling tired and out-of-sorts. It takes me several days to get back into my normal routine and I have to have naps for a few days. (Actually, my husband and I slept on and off most of the weekend. We were pretty wiped out.) I don’t answer emails or make phone calls. I become a hermit.

I think part of it is being an introvert. No matter why I’m away from home, no matter how enjoyable the trip, the energy gets sucked out of me by having to be “on” all the time. At home, I get periods of “me” time in between dealing with people. Plus, I’m reengergized by being in my own space. When away from home, I have neither. So by the time I get home, I crash. This time, I crashed in a big way. The only thing I managed over the weekend was to get laundry started and most of the luggage unpacked, but that was through necessity. We hadn’t been home more than 30 minutes before it looked like our luggage had exploded over every possible surface in the house.

How do you manage when home from a trip? Are you one of those super-organized people who unpacks right away? Do you still have stuff in the suitcase the next time you take a trip? Do you crash or jump right back into life?

Angel

P.S. Since we all came home at different times and PM was out of town too, we haven't managed to organize our winners' list. But I'll work on that today and get it posted. We appreciate your patience with our drain bramage... :)

12 comments:

Problem Child said...

I was so busy yesterday trying to get caught up, the Geek actually unpacked for me and did the laundry we brought home. There's still much more to be unpacked and sorted, but that chore is done. :-)

Dina said...

I usually unpack the next full day I'm home, unless I get home in the weet hrs from Vegas, lol. I just take a nap when I get home, then unpack later that day.

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

I'm sitting at my desk at work and wanting to cry I'm so tired.

Playground Monitor said...

Welcome back Playfriends! I hope we got all the party messed cleaned up before you got back. We really did miss you. Honest!

My recovery depends on the length of the trip. I did an overnight this past weekend and unpacked as soon as I got in because it was just a tote bag with a change of clothing, pajamas, toiletries and a pair of shoes. But when it's a big trip like Nationals, it takes a while to get it all put back away. I'll usually unload the dirty laundry and get started on that right away, but the rest may take a few days. I do have a toiletries bag that just stays packed all the time because I have extras of everything.

Maven Linda said...

Sometimes I get unpacked right away, but usually I don't. The dirty clothes come out first, for the laundry. The rest of it tends to get unpacked when I a) need the item, or b) need the suitcase.

Like Angel, I'm an introvert, so when I get home I'm beyond exhausted. The hubs and I got home from the mountains about noon yesterday; it had been a very busy trip, with a lot of socializing, and I was a zombie by the time the afternoon rolled around. I was asleep by 8:30 last night. I feel a tad more human today.

mslizalou said...

I need a nap when I get home too. It really doesn't matter how long my trip was, I miss my space. I try to get my bags unpacked right away, but from my weekend trip it won't happen until at least tonight. I did get all the laundry finished up yesterday, but never got my nap.

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

I spent all day in bed yesterday. I managed to get laundry going but the suitcases are in various stages of disarray throughout the rest of the house and will probably stay that way until after this weekend.

Can I take a nap yet? Better yet, can I go back to Disney? I was not ready for reality this morning...or the alarm clock.

Instigator

Linda Winstead Jones said...

I always intend to unpack right away, after a trip. Usually doesn't happen. Ok, *never* happens.

Glad y'all are home. Can't wait to hear all about the trip! :-)

LJ

PM's Mother said...

My motto is "There's No Place Like Home" -- especially one's own bed and one's own potty.

I unpack in this order: dirty clothes first - and then everything else when I need it or as I walk by the suitcase.

Angel said...

Well, I just put in my last load of laundry. I have almost everything put away, except for toiletries. And the kids weren't gone nearly long enough to school today...

Angel

Jane said...

I don't unpack all my stuff, but I try to get all the dirty clothes out to wash. I also make sure to take out the souvenirs and gifts I've bought so I can give them out right away.

Katherine Bone said...

Squeeee!! Angel's home! Welcome back playfriends. :D

I unpack as soon as I get home. Well... I'll socialize with my family, then pull out the doodads I bought, sort dirty laundry and such. The suitcase may stand in the corner of the room for a few days, but it's unpacked and ready to be put away.

I'll wait to start laundry until the next day because there is so much time to get caught up on with the family.