Do vacations stress you out? (long)

[enchantedpixiedust]

I'm leaving for WDW on Friday...I always get stressed a little before leaving because of the dogs. My Mom stays with them at my house but she always stirs a little drama up first which makes me edgy. I have 4 nights left to do everything including packing, cleaning the house which is a complete wreck, getting everything ready for dogs, getting all the stuff at work done, finishing shopping list, the list goes on and on.

Plus now Ivan is scheduled across the Panhandle Thursday which we will be driving through on Friday. (from Dallas) Worried about all those folks there plus how the road conditions will be.

Last night I spent the whole night in the ER with my traveling partner who doubled over at midnight w/ Kidney Stones. Now I'm worried about him too, hopefully they'll "pass" today. (TMI, I know) We have planned this trip for a year and it's been postponed twice. He's a 36 year old kid that LOVES Disney and is so looking forward to this.

Hoping I'm not just some sort of freak, does anyone else feel horribly overwhelmed and stressed before leaving on vacation?? I just want to sit and cry, then sleep for hours.

 

[vettechick99]

I'm with ya! I always stress the day before or the day of a vacation. I always end up picking a fight with my FI too b/c he's "being too slow" or "you're in my way" or "just go sit down and I'll take care of this!"

Just the other month on our way out of town, we were having a McD's breakfast in the car. I got the hotcakes and sausage and he accidentally knocked my sausage on the floor. I almost cried I was so wound-up. But give me a few minutes/hours to chill out, and I come around. Read something funny or watch a movie. Or DIS! Anything to get you back in a good mood for your vacation!

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Yes, I get a little stressed out. I guess we want everything to go perfectly and it rarely ever does. Hope that you all get it togethor and get a chance to relax before the trip!

 

[shep]

I think DW gets stressed with all the packing..
I usually never sleep the night before..

 

[LoraJ]

I tend to stress out too.

I have to clean my place up because tomorrow the bird sitter is coming over to get the keys. I am doing laundry, packing and still need to make final travel arrangenents (I keep forgetting to rent a car).

And now I am worried about Ivan. The path keeps changing every day, and although by Saturday the storm should have died down, I worry about our flight getting cancelled. eeep!

 

[MosMom]

I usually get a little stressed out (just a dibbie dab) on the day before the trip and the day of. There is normally SO MUCH to do and it never seems there is enough time to do it. I also like to have an exceptionally clean house when I come home from vacation so not only am I getting finished packing...I'm cleaning too. UGH. There is just something about coming home from vacation to a clean house.

 

[GeorgeG]

For us, going on vacation is how we get away from stress, especially if it's to WDW. We arrange for a friend or relative to look after the cats and mail, make sure all the bills are caught up, turn off the answering machine, turn off the cell phones, and just go.

My MIL used to pressure us for a phone number where we could be reached "in case of an emergency." Nope! There is no emergency worth ruining a much needed vacation. If someone is sick, call the doctor (they'll probably be better by the time we get back). If the house burns, call the fire department (they can get there a lot faster than we can). If someone dies, they'll still be dead when we get back!

I know this must sound cold, but why ruin a vacation with bad news. Vacation is where I go to be free of stress and WDW is just the place to do that. A friend once said "Walt Disney World isn't real." Of course not! If I wanted real I'd stay home and be stressed!

30 more days!!!!

 

[NMAmy]

I'm always stressed before vacation. What with the planning, cleaning the house, packing, trying to finish up everything at work before leaving--it's enough to make you crazy! And I always worry that I'll miss the plane, the car service won't be there, the hotel will have messed up the reservation, etc. I always doublecheck confirmations before we leave...but I'll probably always be a worrywart. I know that none of those problems are insurmountable but as the trip gets closer, they get bigger and bigger in my mind.

 

[aimee11621]

Before we leave on a trip I try to have all the housework done. Do all the laundry etc.

In addition to packing and making reservations making sure I have everthing we could possibly need.

By the time we do get to the hotel, all I want to do is lay down. I have been too wound up for days.

I have come to the conclusion that my nerves get the best of me and i can't truly enjoy until at least the second or third day there.

 

[*Fantasia*]

I get stressed out before and during our vacation. I worry about how much cash I need to carry. I worry about if the top matches the bottom, which shoes, sandals.. Am I packing enough underwears for them. Am I packing too much or not enough. Do I really want to have a carry-on bag with me in the plane or should I just check them in? Is this enough snack/drinks for my kids on the plane/airport while waiting?

The long walks in the park and the waiting in line is stressful. Doing everything all at once in one day in one park and the heat/humid can be stressful.

We come home tired that we need another vacation!

 

[enchantedpixiedust]

Thanks for the replies everyone. You guys always make me feel more "normal".

I'm trying to make lists of everything and prioritize, I'm hoping organizing things will make me feel better. I feel like my life is too chaotic.

Plus I have that issue with the dogs that if I'm not there supervising something is going to go wrong. Silly, I know, I'm just a worrier. It's a good thing I don't have kids.