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?

Seriously, does anyone know what I mean?

Thanks

 

[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.

 

[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!
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!

 

[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

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!

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

 

[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.

 

[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" :

 

[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.