Can anyone help me with a problem?? Half empty vs. half full!

[kamgen]

I don't need DVC information, but I thought as a member there might be other DVC members out there who feel similar or can help me! :)

On our recent trip to VB, I came to a startling realization. I think I RUIN my vacations. :(
Dh and I took a long walk one night at VB and I discussed this with him. He thinks I do and should work on fixing it. I would appreciate any opinions or advice you have! :)

From the time I get to WDW/VB/Etc. I constantly think about how much time is left, when we have to leave, or what I don't have time to do. On the first day I say, "we only have 5 days left" instead of thinking "Cool, we still have 5 more days!"
I find myself failing to enjoy things out of disappointment that in a few more days I won't be able to do them anymore.
Now I always know I will be going back, which does help, but I still think about the cup being half empty instead of half full!

HELP!
I want to clear my mind and enjoy myself! I don't want to be so gloomy. Why is this?? Andy doctors in the house? :p

Seriously, does anyone know what I mean?

Thanks:p

[kamgen]

Okay everybody, I am not as depressed as this sounds! :)
Ha!
I am only like this on vacation. Hmmm...guess it must be because wherever we are always seems nicer than Michigan. :p

[dopey2]

I had the same problem until we started going for 2 weeks at a time. Even then I still start to think about how many days we have left during the second week. I have managed to keep these thoughts to myself lately and not bring everyone down with me. I do find that the busier Iam the less I think about this. I know this is not much help but I don't know how to stop these thoughts.

[HeatherPage]

I can sort of relate, my problem isn't with enjoying the time off but in the back of my mind I'm always thinking - uggh! I have to be back to work in X amount of days, I'm always worried that something major will have happened while I'm gone (lay me off, fire me, etc...for going on vacation in the first place) hopefully its an irrational way of thinking, luckily the two attorneys I work for now are pretty laid back so maybe it will get better. Matter of fact I'm leaving for the beach for a week this Sunday, so I'll see how I do. Hope you get better. But at least as DVC owners we know we can go back soon!

[kamgen]

Thanks to both of you! it is nice to know I am not alone...or crazy!:p
We do take shorter trips because I like to go 3 or more times a year. We take 5-6 days at a time. Plus, dh's work won't give him 2 weeks at one time.

I'l just keep it to myself and think about the fact that I am lucky enough to always know when I am going back!! Thanks DVC! :bounce:

[robinb]

I'm always worried that something major will have happened while I'm gone (lay me off, fire me, etc...for going on vacation in the first place)

That really happened to me! I'm in the computer field and took a 10 day vacation and was laid off the day I came back. It wasn't just because I took vacation, but because the company was failing. The laid off 5 people the day before. It was terrible being without a job, but it gave me an opportunity to think about what I really wanted to do and I took the summer off to laze around. The next job I picked up I had for almost 10 years before I decided to stay home with my 21 month old DD.

Back on topic ...

My hubby and I usually spend 10 days on vacation and I start bumming about half way through the trip. The first part of my vacation is spent with this kind of thinking: "Splash Mountain down? No problem, I can get back to it later." The send half is "Splash Mountain in down! Oh no! We're not going to back to the MK this trip!". But, being DVC members helps a lot. I know I'll be back to The World soon enough and Splash Mountain will be there when I return.

[DVCKaren]

I am exactly the same way...months of planning and when I am down there, I can't seem to enjoy myself because I keep thinking "only 5 nites left"...or "next week at this time I will be at work", etc. You are not alone. I am hoping that now that we have joined DVC, it will subside somewhat.

[kamgen]

Thanks again!
Karen, You are so right! That is me!

YAH!! I AM NOT ALONE :p

Maybe it will get better after awhile. We have only been members a year!

We are getting ready now to plan next years trips, so it should keep me busy...hurry up 11 month window! :)

[KathyK]

I'm pretty much the same way. I'm always thinking that there isn't as much time left as I'd like. I was really bad a few weeks before our recent vacation when I was saying, Oh no, only 3 weeks until we're back from WDW."

Well, look on the bright side. Instead of looking at how many days you have left in a particular vacation, maybe you could think about how many years we have left as DVC members. Forty sure does sound like a nice number to look forward to, doesn't it? Then again, it really is 39, and before we know it, there will only be like 20 years left! Yikes... I'm depressing myself even more.

--Kathy

[kamgen]

Oh Kathy! Don't get depressed on us!:p

Good idea to think about DVC as a whole!!! i will try that!:p

[KirstenB]

I do this too, and it drives me nuts!! I try to think about how soon the next trip will be, and picture myself already there.

[Ralph&Pam]

One thing we do as part of our vacations (to WDW and elsewhere) is plan some special activities for the last day or two of any vacation trip. Since we really enjoy our restaurant excursions during vacations, we always plan a special night out the evening before our return. This gives us something to look forward to as the end of the trip approaches.

Another nice thing about DVC is that we can now anticipate our next trip as well. Right now, we have three trips to BWV booked on points (this July, Jan and March 2002) so even when we are wrapping up the July trip, we will know not only that we will be coming back but when we will return. I expect that when we leave we will have identified something we did not do or some place we did not go that we will add to our plans for the next visit. Knowing that you're coming back makes it somewhat easier to leave.

Ralph

[Lisa F]

I second Ralph and Pam about doing something special on your last day or night there... We did the "Undiscovered Future World Tour" on our last trip on our last day because it was the only day on the trip when it was scheduled. It REALLY helped with the "trip is coming to an end" blues.

Occasionally I find myself thinking that there are only so many days left on this trip, but there is so much to distract me that I don't think about it for very long! For me, it's more a problem of daydreaming that I am back there when I am supposed to be getting work done (like reading the boards right now rather than working on what I should be doing!)

Lisa

[Steve on LI]

Kamgen, I have had actually nightmares about this. It's just that we all spend so much time planning and anticipating our vacations that the only thing that can ruin them is time passing too quickly. Every year for the past 5 years We've added one extra day to our vacation. This somehow helps me deal with the time passing so quickly. A real good excersise that helps me put time in its proper perspective is by constantly timing out the days. Example: I am going on vacation on a Wednesday this year and returning the following Sunday. What I do is take a Wednesday and 12 days later on a Sunday I sit back and think about everything that I did in that time frame, and how slowly time really does pass. Then I say to myself I'm going to be spending all those days at WDW, and it make me feel better. Then I do something silly like say 12 days is only 288 hours and 100 are spent sleeping that doesn't give me enough time. This all brings me back to my Wednesday to the following Sunday routine. If you are bummed cheer up enjoy your vacation and when it's over get pumped up for the next vacation.

[wdwnut]

hi: no you're not alone; i have a tendency to do this too. also, i had a horrible tendency to schedule every single day, and woe betide the one who screwed the schedule. i've been working on this a lot over the last few years; the kids say i'm much better now than i was in the early 90's. this past trip 5/1-5/7, we only had 1 ps before we went for the rose and crown. there were only 2 or 3 things we absolutely had to do as well. i think you'll be mellowing as the years go by.

[BobBrazeal]

I used to do that. For me it was just a matter of deciding that I was the only one ruining my vacation and it was up to me to fix it. And I was ruining my vacations and that sure was a waste!

Now I see how soon after I arrive I get to the point where I really have to think to come up with what day of the week it is. Then I know I've really started relaxing and I'm into the moment, not worried about when it will end.

[msmouse]

it is so funny that you mention this. My son (21) has loved DW since our first trip when he was 4. Last year, before leaving for DW, he told me that he had dreams that we let him sleep thru the first three days of the vacation.

[eva]

Oh No! We leave tomorrow and I am already getting bummed about the vacation going too fast. I keep telling myself that this trip is one day longer than the last trip. We always used to go for 2 weeks but my new job doesn't allow for the time right now. So the last 2 years it has been 6 or 7 days at a time. I seems funny to be excited and depressed all at the same time. :( :bounce:

[Peter Johnson]

Originally posted by HeatherPage
I have to be back to work in X amount of days, I'm always worried that something major will have happened while I'm gone (lay me off, fire me, etc...for going on vacation in the first place

That happened to me also, but with a different twist. I was laid off three weeks before an OKW trip. It actually made that trip much more fun and happier than it would have been. Why? Because I was out of the pressure cooker, and didn't have to worry about being laid off ;)

I also start thinking "x days left", but not until about 3 days to go in our usual 12-day vacation. Those thoughts only last a moment though, and don't make me enjoy the last days any less.

But today I'm thinking "Tomorrow I'll be at OKW" :) :bounce: :p: :sunny: :jester: :wave:

[Denine]

This last trip (4/30-5/10), I didn't start thinking about how few days we had left until 3 days before leaving. That is pretty good for me.
We've been members since '95, so knowing we will be back doesn't help. I just hate going home to the cold, no matter what time of year we go.

[PKK/MJK]

It is nice to know that other people get depressed like this too. I thought I was the only one. When we go for two weeks, I'm fine until about Tuesday of the second week and then it hits. I guess we all look forward to our vacations so much, the thought of them being over so quickly is a real "downer."

[TriciaT]

The best part of my vacation is the month before we leave. I love the planning and anticipation. I almost dread vacation day coming and am already depressed by the time I get there, knowing that it will end soon. Isn't that terrible?

Hopefully now that I know we'll be there every year for the next 41, I'll be able to just relax and enjoy.

[Lisa P.]

I don't know if this will make sense to anyone. I used to be like that... very aware of how many days were left. If it was before the halfway mark on the trip, I was happy. If it was past the halfway mark, I felt the disappointment creeping in. Around the mid-point, it was the norm for us to add a day to the end, just to please me.

It's so different these days though. Along with a tiny bit of sadness at the end of vacations, I actually feel rather relieved to be returning home most of the time. Three things have changed:

1. More frequent jaunts. We've taken at least two annual weeklongs annually plus quite a lot of close-to-home weekends away. Our home routine is appreciated more when we are away on a fairly regular basis, even if it's for camping weekends.

2. Fewer chores afterward. I always thoroughly clean the house before we leave. We do laundry while away so there won't be a huge heap o'dirty duds to wash. And our first night home, we always have take-out pizza or Chinese. Returning home to a nice, clean, comfortable home with few chores to do makes the return home more pleasant.

3. Less time in planning vacations. I have much less time available to plan our trips than I used to. I want "just the facts, ma'am!" so that I can avoid major pitfalls and/or see the key highlights. Other than that, we look forward to fun surprises and try to just go with it. Having less time and energy invested reduces the letdown when the trip seems to move along so quickly or when things don't go perfectly.

Hope that makes sense to someone. Vacations are terrific. But they are actually such a small part of life that I can't put too much emphasis on them without their taking on an inordinate importance. That's just me, I guess. :rolleyes:

[chicago641]

I used to feel the same way,but I found a cure that works for me.I start to make early plans for the next trip even if it is just planning the date.This really helps me.:jester:

[one_cat]

I am like that too. We spent the last night of our last 4 night vacation at Victoria and Alberts which was fun, but... It would have been more fun if we had done it the first night of our vacation. As it was I didn't enjoy the dinner so much because I knew that once it was over our vacation was over :( I won't do that again. From now on all planned activities will be done at the beginning of the vacation and the last full day can be used for relaxing by the pool or - whatever...

[Olaf]

I do the exact same thing. It's nice to know I'm not the only nut around here. Our 9 day trip in Mar was fun, but somewhat exhausting and I worried about everything throughout the entire trip. We had to drive three hours to the airport and I was terrified that our car would have problems, worried about parking the van, worried about the planes being late (which they were). By the time we actually got to WDW my stomach was in knots. It made my dinner that night at Chef Mickey's miserable. Of course, a few days into it, I got into dumps about it being over.

I'm planning a trip in September, WDW three days, Disney Magic three days. I'm determined that this be a relaxing trip. I'll let you know how it goes.

[kamgen]

Thanks to everyone for posting here!
Dh and I just booked a 3 night cruise for September 19, so that is exciting!! I will test my new "power of positivity" then!! It is nice to know others feel like I do! We are trying to add some days on at HH then too! (waitlisted)

thanks again ! :bounce:

[princess angel]

Hi Kamgen!!!
this is a great thread!!! I think just sharing our feelings on the DIS w/eachother may help!!!
I'm the same way! I plan, plan, plan, can't stop anticipating, spend way too much time on these boards, talk about the upcoming trip to dh everynight... I am always so excited and anxious for our next trip, that when we finally get to wdw I'm still excited, but very aware of how many days are left!
like someone else said, I'm totally happy til the midway point! then I really start thinking how many days left, and I don't want to got back to the rat race of everyday life - not htat life is bad, it's actually pretty damn goo, but it is not the fantasy and magic of WDW!!! :)

I ALWAYS have the next trip planned before we even go on the most current one, so I always know when exactly we will be returning, and lately the trips have been becoming more and more frequent, this does help, cause I know we'll be back soon! but I also find myself doing the "oh no, this could be my last dole whip!", instead of "isn't his dole whip awesome!!!"
it's depressing!

we all need to lighten up! we love wdw so much, that we should really learn to relax throughout the entire trip!!!
let's all make a pact to really try to LIVE FOR THE MOMENT!!! :) (and the magic!!!)

or... we can start a wdw annonymous group!!!
LOL!

Laura :)

[kamgen]

Thanks Laura!
It does help knowing when we are returning. Still, I always wish it were longer.

The other night my wonderful husband put the Millenium CD on and we cuddled on the couch listening to it. He said, "when are we going back?"
I said, "tomorrow if you want to!"

It is so nice to share my love of Disney with my dh! :)

[princess angel]

It certainly is wonderful to be able to share the love for disney w/your dh!!! he loves it as much as I do, it's wonderful!!! :)
we just spent 2 weeks in WDW, (april 28 - may 12) and he was more upset than I was the last couple of days before we came home!!!
we listen to disney CD's everynight at dinner!!! LOL! I know it's a little much, but we can't help it!!! :)

Laura :)

[kamgen]

Nothing wrong with that, Laura! We listen to the soundtrack to La Nouba at dinner sometimes. It reminds us of our WDW trip and when we saw Cirque de Soleil!
My dh is wonderful, just last month he bought us some VWL points. :) Now we can go more!! Yeah! :)

It is great to know there are other "nuts" out there, just like me and my dh! He posts on the boards here sometimes too! We are so funny, our families think we are crazy! Especially when we tell them how much we want to go again and again and again! :bounce:

[tarzanman]

I am going to try to break my DW of the habit but she might be a lost cause. We will just have to go more I guess.

[msdis]

Gee, I thought we were the only ones who acted like that. We usually go eight nights since the travel down day is a waste it is tecnically 7 days, right? Usually after the first 2 days which are usually comando days we are like "hey, we've only been here 2 days", the relaxation sets in, and then it's "oh no, we leave in only 2 days" and that's when the sadness and depression sets in and how can we cram all that's left we want to do in. One thing I ALWAYS left for the end of the trip was shopping at DTD. It was like a mad rush to do my shopping at the last minute. I even went down the night before we left one trip till midnight. Now I go down after a few days and get "all" my shopping done and if there is an item I'm debating on I can quickly run back down. Whew, that let's a lot of the pressure off. I too, have to have my next trip planned before we get to the current one. It always makes leaving again easier. Also, as many trips as we've planned I always get SO hyped up over it. Like we've never been there and will never be going back again. Definately ocd. (obsesive compulsive disorder). My DH lives, dreams, breathes, sleeps and talks about cars. For me, it's you guessed it, Disney. Everything, everything everything , I can find a way to relate it to Disney. Has anyone seen the Ford commercial that sounds just like test track? People either think I'm nuts because of it or would like me to shut up. It's totally awesome to meet someone who has been to and loves the mouse and LIKES talking about it.

[kamgen]

I love you all! :bounce:

[princess angel]

that's sweet Kamgen!!!!!!!!!!! I love you all too!!!!!!! :)

It's so great having all of you to share with!!!
yes, I can share w/my dh, cause he loves it too, but I try not to talk about it tooooo much w/family cause they all think we're NUTS for going to WDW so much, and how obsessed I am!!!!!!!!! (they don't know what they're missing!!!! );)

happy to be able to talk to you guys!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Laura :D :D :D

[DVCKaren]

I replied earlier in this thread, but I it is so nice to know DH and I aren't the only Disney obsessed couple! LOL! I will definately have to try some of these techniques next year when we go......hopefully I can relax more then and not worry that there is only 3 days left!! LOL!!!