Christmas in February

People often ask me if it's difficult to travel so much of the year, to be gone from "home", to call multiple locations "home"; and the short answer to that would be yes it is.

It's hard to relocate every few weeks or months.  It's difficult to remember what you left at the other location, vs. are we really checking a bag this time, vs. what do I really need to take with me.  Bottom line:  Where is my electric toothbrush?  Or, more importantly, where's my deodorant?!?

It's hard to wake up in the morning and have to pause for a moment ~ to think, "Where am I?"   And more importantly, "Is the bathroom to the right or to the left??"  Sometimes I open my eyes and can't make it out at first.  It's unsettling.

These habits of home that we so take for granted are not, by those of us who travel.  Nothing is ever the same.  Not the bathroom in the middle of the night, not the favorite restaurant, not the stepping out for a drink with a friend; not where you shop or what you buy or what you eat.

So, yes, there are difficulties associated with this life of travel.  It's not-so-normal.  It's hard for people to relate to. It seems 100% glamorous when, in reality, it's mostly, but not entirely glamorous.  

We can't be too attached.  We can't be attached to a specific brand of toothpaste or shampoo, 'cause when we need it, we just have to buy what we see.  We can't be attached to how we want our eggs, 'cause sometimes we think we're really lucky just to find something for breakfast that resembles eggs.  Sometimes we can't find cold medicine when we need it, or breath mints, or ...... the simplest things, like a Band-Aid.  

We leave things behind when we are traveling.  And it's hard sometimes.  It's hard to leave behind family photo's, those connections to the people we love the most in all this world.  It's hard to leave my own beloved feather pillow(s) ~ ('cause it takes two for me); let alone leaving behind a pet that I adore.  

So yes.  It's hard sometimes.

But one of the best things about all this is:  

I get Christmas twice! 

We (so far) have made it a habit to always be "home" for the holidays.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are all about family ~ at least it's that way for us.  So we are "mainland" and "not traveling" during those times.

But.   Immediately following Christmas, we strip the tree, stow the decorations, and flee (in haste) for a warmer climate.  No apologies.

So all of those lovely Christmas presents are barely a few days old, and some are not even out-of-the-box as of yet. But still, we have a plane ticket for Paradise, not-to-be-missed.

But I have found that, when I return "home" in Feb or Mar or whenever, all those gifts are patiently awaiting me ~ and ~ I get to have Christmas all over again.

We just hit the door, and in addition to a pile of leftover laundry (how did that happen, I never (ever) leave dirty laundry!!), I found........a second Christmas.  My Panini grill is here to greet me (thanks Tina & OC), paused in anticipation of my grilling something amazing.  I  delighted in seeing my Sonoma "Foods of the World" cookbooks (thanks again, Trevor) waiting, as they decorate my dining room table, to be explored and experienced.  Michelle and Grant, my framed "Our Hearts Belong to Papa & Noni" picture of the babies was rediscovered as a new treasure; and I found our Go Pro Tripod (thanks again Karen & Jason) just waiting to accompany us on future adventures; and so forth, and so on.

Christmas in February.  It's a wonderful concept.

If you get the chance, you should definitely try it.