I've been traveling a bit more than usual, and each time I return home there are certain things I'm thrilled to see (besides the fact that my plants are still alive)...
- I'm shocked to say it, thinking of myself as more of a old-fashioned country-type girl, but it's so great to have access to my very own computer when I return home. I ignore the internet while visiting friends & family, so the abundance of design blog updates and Facebook action is like an all-out junk food fest. It's nice to once again feel connected to the world at large, after happily immersing myself in the far-flung parts of my own little world.
- Ah, the joy of showering at home. All your preferred toiletries right at hand, no grappling with how to turn the water on/off, your long-perfected temperature setting, towels that are all yours!
- And then, after a marathon day of traveling, your very own bed in which to collapse. A beloved mattress, excellently worn-in sheets, and plenty of pillows made for reading, sleeping, & dreaming.
What parts of your apartment do you greet most fondly when you return from travel?
Images: Tess Wilson




Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
A nice variety of clothes and shoes, not packed in a suitcase.
My two old cats. And the comfort of my own kitchen that's stocked with the tea I like and my favorite mugs.
i love having my toiletries all put away, particularly those in the medicine cabinet. and my own cable television where i know all the channels!
I miss the living room. We've got a big comfy couch facing a wall of windows with an incredible view across town and out to the sea. The bookshelves are well stocked so it's my favorite place to spend an afternoon.
I just got back from a month trip in Europe last night and am surprised to be so happy to be back in LA. Definitely missed my very comfy bed, plants, internet, bathroom, kitchen tools and cookware, TV with Netflix, ....
There's nobody to make my bed or take my clothing to the laundry and rehang them in the closet for me.
My apartment doesn't have a jacuzzi tub - and when the bubbles spill over from the tub, there's nobody to clean up after me and provide fresh towels and toiletries twice a day.
The water faucets are actually easier to work elsewhere - and you never run out of hot water in a hotel or a ship.
The bartenders and waiters don't remember my preferences much less my name at the bars and restaurants I frequent at home.
There's nobody to make my meals for me at home and no Room Service - and my options at home are limited by what I have in the fridge or cupboard.
Fewer TV channels and expensive internet means I spend more time at the pool, reading on deck or exploring the real world rather than the virtual one.
My bed isn't turned down at night with a chocolate on the pillow at home...
...and when I wake up in the morning, my bedroom is in the same place as the night before.
Given the choice, I'd much rather be aboard a ship.
I miss my kitchen most of all - I like having my own cookware and tools, my tiny spoons and oversize mugs, and of course, my favourite foods.
@bepsf: Hi! All the things you've said are pretty right, but if you're out of your home for some days and really don't have a nice feeling when you get back, then I think you should do something with it. It's your private nest!!
xxxoooxxx
By the way, what I miss the most when I'm out of home is always my bed, with my bright coloured sheets and all my little pillows. And I miss my piano too. I don't often play it, but I feel better when I know it's right there waiting for me. :-)
@bepsf - I went into my favorite bar last night after a week or two away to see that they MOVED EVERYTHING. It was like the Twilight Zone. Gave me the heebie-jeebies.
I've spent some time living on a ship. It is possible to run out of hot water, and really un-fun when it happens. *shrugs* But then you strap on your SCUBA gear and get in the water and suddenly, everything's okay again.
I think the thing I miss the most is my car. Typically, when I travel, I'm with someone else with more cargo space or better gas mileage than me and my Jeep. It's nice to get back, load my stuff into my car, and drive around for a little bit to unwind before going home to my demanding-ass cat.
Our home ocean and the English language are my top two things I miss, every time we leave for a couple months. Right after those is a real American shower, bagels, and tacos.
Cooking for myself. Different shoes. Our friends. Our bikes. The smell of our house. Our art.
My toddler's full spectrum of books!
My own kitchen, full of perfectly sharpen knives and pans that don't have all the non stick coating flaking off.
My own bed with soft warm thick blankets and comfy pillows. Ahhhh. :)
My cat!!!!! <3
@bepsf- true, but home is where the heart is! you need to make home a happy place : )
I definitely miss my cat, my bed, and my favorite home cooking!
My bed, my bike (can't live without it), my cats and, if I was in the countryside, the smell of a big city.
My bed! There's nothing like sleeping in your own bed that is calming.
Beyond that, my fridge that holds the things I like, my shower with my towels (and no time limit like it can get staying with family), etc.
If I'm at a hotel and come home, my couch is one of the first things I gravitate towards since I definitely missed having somewhere to it beyond the bed or an uncomfy chair.
@bepsf - I know the feeling, and would love to be on a ship right now too! I love home, but there is something to be said about a vacation that can make you feel like you have a home away from home.
My own bed, sharp knives and the peace and quiet of my own garden!
My cats