Beating the Blues After a Vacation

The After-Vacation Blues. Is there anything more depressing?

On the first day back from a wonderful vacation, you are seriously considering selling your house, quitting your job and jumping onto the nearest tramp steamer.

Why? You’ve returned to find a mountain of unpaid bills, a desk at work buried under a snarl of paper and an unexpected pool of water in your living room, thanks to a busted pipe.

All you can think about is what a delight it was to laze on the beach. What you have to look forward to is a mildewed living room, dirty laundry, anemic bank account and dreary reruns on TV.

After one memorable excursion I decided I either had to give up my wanderlust or find a better way to ease back into after-trip reality.

Considering the problem a bit more, I figured out that the worst part of returning was the culture shock of flashing from one life to another. It’s almost more than the average human being can bear, going from a life of pure hedonism to one of total responsibility.

So I have developed some ideas on how to make a vacation linger long after returning home.

Plan, Plan, Plan!

1. As one vacation is ending, immediately begin planning your next trip. Set up some pleasurable research projects that will get you focused in that direction. Go to the library or bookstore and get books about your new destination.

Arrange get-togethers with friends who have been there. Set up an appointment with your travel agent to inquire about logistics. Get some brochures and scatter them around your coffee table.

2. During the trip, anticipate your homecoming blues and circumvent them by buying wonderful souvenirs that will keep the trip fresh in your mind when you get home. Phonograph records or tapes that feature native music instantly re-create the mood and feel of the country you’ve visited.

For instance, when we were in Ireland we bought several records at “singing pubs.” Whenever we play them we recapture the mood of Ireland.

Indigenous liqueurs help conjure up tasty recollections. It’s difficult to drink ouzo without remembering the charming Greek taverna where you joined in the miserlou line and stunned them with your creative rendition of Zorba the Greek.

3. Get your photographs or slides developed right away and make an event of putting them into an album. A nice touch is to play your native records and imbibe a limited amount of the appropriate liqueur.

4. Re-create one of your favorite meals from the journey. Food is a major part of my travels. I take notes on memorable meals with thoughts of how to create them at home, and I often try to get chefs to divulge their recipes.

From the Chef’s Hand

On the Big Island of Hawaii I ordered chilled avocado orange soup at our hotel. When the chef appeared at our table and ceremoniously handed me the recipe, it was a highlight of our trip. Now, whenever I fix the soup, it’s a reminder of that special meal and of the other delights of Hawaii.

5. Plan a party right away to share your adventures with friends. A variation on this theme is to invite other friends who have been to the same destination and make it a group potluck. Ask them to bring their pictures and memorabilia.

6. If you made any new acquaintances on your trip, write to them (sending any snapshots of all of you). Arrange a time to get together with them to discuss the trip and, if you feel like it, maybe plan a new one.

Often the reason why returning to our everyday existence seems so dismal is because this rather mundane life was in such a mess when we left. We are in such a rush before we go on vacation that we leave a pile of unpleasant paper work to deal with upon our return. No wonder we hate to come home.

And here are some things you might consider before your vacation to put your house in order:

1. Clean your house thoroughly so it will be fun to return home. If you have the luxury of a cleaning service, arrange to have them work while you’re away.

2. Have a house sitter, neighbor or friend sort your mail and throw away your papers (unless you can’t bear to miss the news).

3. Try to be caught up with your personal affairs before you leave so you don’t feel overwhelmed upon return. Before you pack, get your paper work, record-keeping and checkbook in order.

Pay your bills before you go. If you’re going out of the country for any length of time, appoint a friend, relative or bookkeeper to take care of your bills. Otherwise, when you come home your house will resemble a paper jungle.

4. Delegate responsibility at work so you don’t come back to mounds of crises.

5. Try to arrange your flights so they are at reasonable hours and you have time to recoup before rushing to work the next day. If possible, give yourself a day to catch your breath.

6. Try to be well rested before you take off.

7. Plan a wonderful event the week you get back (leaving yourself enough time to recuperate, of course). Having something to look forward to eases the pain of being back.

In this spirit, tuck away some of your trip money so you can have a homecoming splurge. A festive dinner at a good restaurant or tickets for a play or concert can keep the holiday spirit soaring . . . and just might help avert those After-Vacation Blues.