Reflections on Home from a Homebody

As we've traveled, I've thought often of home.  I have determined that I am a homebody.  I've always known this about myself, but apparently I keep trying to convince myself otherwise by taking month-long trips (remember Costa Rica), moving myself across the country (first for school, then for jobs), and entertaining the idea of moving across the world to teach English for a year or two.  But, I have often felt ready to be home during this trip.  To see family, mostly, but also to regain some semblance of order, routine, and normalcy. 

For starters, I miss people but also things.  I know that sounds shallow, but the things that I miss are things that identify me and my life, whether I knew it before leaving or not.  For example, I miss driving my car.  Having the ability to just get up and go was something I so took for granted, especially now that we have to walk or take public transportation.  I miss Diet Coke.  Sounds crazy, right?  But soda is EXPENSIVE over here, more expensive than beer and wine most of the time. Also, it tastes kind of funny. So, I've had to cut back on my intake (which probably isn't a bad thing), and Jon and I have taken to sharing a bottle instead of getting our own (again, not a bad thing). But I do so miss the option of going to the local Race Trac and getting a giant fountain Diet Coke with ice for a mere 99 cents! 

As I mentioned before, I miss grocery shopping and cooking our own food.  I nearly had a meltdown a few nights ago standing in the grocery trying to find dinner.  All I wanted was a microwave or a stove, or at least silverware!  "How do you use a grocery store effectively without a kitchen?" I asked.  We ended up with sandwiches and potato chips again.  I even miss the day-to-day chores I'd normally complain about.  Doing laundry (with a washer AND dryer)?  Miss it.  Wiping kitchen counters and cleaning out the refrigerator? Miss it. Balancing the checkbook? Miss it (maybe a little less than the others).  And my oh my, I miss Target!  I check my e-mail, where I get the weekly sales ads, and have to resist opening them out of fear I'll
begin showing withdrawal symptoms!

Now, please don't take any of this as whining or complaining.  I feel so incredibly grateful and blessed that Jon and I have been able to experience the things we have, to see the things we've seen.  We've had so much fun.  But I also believe that it's experiences like this that remind us of how lucky we are, and how often we take the things and people we love for granted.  And I believe it's important to reflect on that.  So, if you are at home doing laundry or cooking the same old dinner, be grateful that you have that washing machine available at a whim and that you have a kitchen to cook dinner in!  As for me, in about a week, you'll find me at the grocery store I drove to in a car, filling my cart with my favorite things, drinking a Big Gulp Diet Coke, and doing lots of laundry (just for the fun of it) at HOME.