The Art of Coming Home

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Well, all good things must come to an end, and after five weeks away, we're home!

It's always a little bittersweet when a long trip comes to an end. On one hand, we're sorry to see it over. We've had a wonderful time, travelled to some beautiful places, spent time with family and friends, enjoyed cruising, and made plenty of memories. On the other hand, there's something pretty nice about sleeping in your own bed again.

I always find that coming home after an extended trip takes a little getting used to. For weeks, our days have been filled with new places, different surroundings, deciding where to eat, what to see, and what adventures the day might bring. Suddenly, we're back to familiar surroundings and the everyday routine.

And then reality sets in!

There's the unpacking, which somehow never seems quite as exciting as packing for a trip. Laundry, groceries, mail, and checking in with elderly parents. The refrigerator is looking pretty bare, and after five weeks of having someone else prepare most of our meals, we're back to the age-old question: What's for dinner?

I think one of the strangest things about returning home is how quickly everything feels familiar again, almost like you were never away at all. You slip back into your own bed, make coffee in your own kitchen, and pick up where you left off. Yet part of your mind is still somewhere else, and you are just a little different after your experiences.

As much as we love travelling, we do appreciate coming home. There's no denying that. We are looking forward to normal life for the next 2 and a half months, all while planning our next adventure - escaping the Canadian winter for some warmth in the sun.

For now, though, we're happy to be home. There's plenty of catching up to do, friends and family to reconnect with, and a few things around the house that probably aren't going to take care of themselves.

And perhaps that's the nice thing about travelling. You get to enjoy being away, and then you get to enjoy coming home again.


Do you find coming home after a long trip is something you look forward to, or are you always a little reluctant to leave? And how long does it take you to get back into your regular routine?

I'd love to hear.


Comments

  1. EdNovember 5, 2026 at 12:54 PM

    I always look forward to getting home, especially sleeping in my own bed. But it also applies to getting back to my regular routines which return quite easily and naturally though I do enjoy them a bit more after not being able to have them for awhile. All too soon though I take them for granted once again until the next time I leave on a long trip.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Neuer GartentraumNovember 5, 2026 at 2:22 PM

    Hi Barbara,

    What wonderful timing! We have just returned home to Germany after six lovely weeks in Greece, so I could relate to almost every word of your post.

    Our journey home took three days, and although I enjoyed our time away enormously, I was so happy to open our own front door again. There really is something special about sleeping in your own bed, making coffee in your own kitchen and finding everything exactly where it belongs.

    Of course, the less romantic side of coming home is waiting too. The laundry, the empty refrigerator, the shopping and all those little jobs that somehow manage to survive perfectly well without us!

    I especially liked your thought that everything feels familiar again almost immediately, although we ourselves have returned with new memories and experiences. That is exactly how I feel.

    I think one of the pleasures of travelling is that it teaches us to appreciate both the wider world and our own little corner of it. And perhaps the best part is knowing that there will always be another adventure to look forward to.

    Enjoy being home, catching up with family and friends, and settling back into your familiar routines. I am looking forward to hearing about your next journey when the Canadian winter arrives!

    Warm greetings from Germany,
    Anette

    ReplyDelete
  3. Liz A.November 5, 2026 at 2:39 PM

    Welcome home. And now you have your memories from the trip.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ruby Rose and the Big Little Angels 3November 6, 2026 at 12:44 AM

    Home is the last leg of a long trip

    ReplyDelete
  5. GiancarloNovember 6, 2026 at 4:02 AM

    Casa dolce casa.
    Buona giornata

    ReplyDelete

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Where We've Been

Red Flags have corresponding blog posts. White Flags mean I still have yet to write about it