Things I Didn’t Think I Would Miss, but I Do

Posted on 27. Feb, 2011 by in Advice, Other

Last week I put up a post talking about the things that I thought I would miss, but I don’t. Today I’m taking the opposite tact: a lit of things that I actually DO miss. Things I totally took for granted back at home but have come to long for on the road.

Things I Didn’t Expect to Miss:

  • The Seasons- Okay, so skipping snowpocalypse 37 this winter was really sweet, but my quest for endless summer hasn’t been totally blissful either. It turns out there is a whole mess of emotions and memories tied up to changes in the weather, and when you are on a hot beach all the time you kind of miss out on them. Right now I’m in Northern Vietnam, where the weather is seriously chilly, and although I’ve whined a bit, part of me is secretly thrilled to see some variety.
Dashboard again

Creative Commons License photo credit: Mulad

  • Driving- I used to really dislike driving places at home, but now I really miss my car. To be more oddly specific: I miss my work commute. That was my time to be alone and decompress while rocking out to Lady Gaga or that Train-song-that-nobody-likes-but-me.

Creative Commons License photo credit: half alive - soo zzzz

  • Sleeping in My Own Bed- This was mentioned in the comments of my last article and I definitely agree. I’ve slept in more beds than I can count on this trip. Comfy ones, horrible ones, beds on floors, beds in a van, on a bus, boat, train. Nothing can compare to the security and comfort of waking up in your own familiar sheets.

  • My Family- Of course I knew I would miss my family, but I really have, much more than I thought I would. Maybe it’s because I spent the last two years in very close proximity to them (link), or maybe it’s just because I am SO far away, but part of me can’t wait to get home and see them again.
Early to Rise, Early to Bed

Creative Commons License photo credit: Randy Son Of Robert

  • Vegetating- Yeah, I’m kind of a lazy bum a lot of the time. Sometimes (particularly when you’re hungover) it’s just heaven to spend an entire day zoning out with a book or a Law and Order SVU marathon. When I’m traveling though there’s so much to see and do that I feel tremendously guilty every time I want to take an afternoon off and watch Dexter on my computer. Plus nobody likes to be that kid who never leaves the hostel, no matter how tired you are feeling.

One of the big lessons I learn, every time I go travelling, is how grateful I am for the little things in life. I am constantly stumbling across those “don’t know what you got til it’s gone” moments, and I think they are really valuable in making you appreciate your home life.

What surprising things have you missed?

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34 Responses to “Things I Didn’t Think I Would Miss, but I Do”

  1. Katherina

    27. Feb, 2011

    Sleeping in your own bed is worth a million… all the hostels and sleeping bags can be disturbing!

    Reply to this comment

  2. condra

    27. Feb, 2011

    Yess I definitely miss vegetating!! It’s amazing to have that time to yourself, and also the car time you mentioned.

    I also miss being somewhere familiar – which is why sometimes I fit in my travels small places/cities/stopovers that I’ve already been to (London is a big fav. of mine). Gives me the feeling of home and the ability to sustain a longer trip.

    Reply to this comment

    • Steph

      06. Mar, 2011

      I would kill for a stopover in London right now. Sometimes familiarity can be so comforting.

      Reply to this comment

  3. Chris

    27. Feb, 2011

    Being hungover while on the road is the worst!

    Good list.

    Reply to this comment

  4. Liz

    28. Feb, 2011

    I’d have to say I agree with the bed, but I’d also add clean clothes. No matter how hard you scrub your clothes or how often you hand wash them in the hostel sink, it’s just not the same level of cleanliness I was used to back home.

    Reply to this comment

  5. Hani

    28. Feb, 2011

    I hear ya!
    I never thought I’d miss all of the above (with the exception of the seasons and vegetating).

    I miss driving and the freedom to just hop in my car and take a ride anywhere, anytime.

    More than my bed, I miss my pillows! LOL! I sleep with ridiculous amounts of pillows (handmade by my mum) and I miss them :P

    Which brings me to my family! I didn’t think I’d miss them this much. I think I keep more in touch with my parents now, than I did when I was back home.

    And you know, I never thought I’d say this when I was in Malaysia (which is where I’m from), but I miss the food from back home – and I wish I had learnt how to cook :P

    Good list :D

    Reply to this comment

    • Steph

      06. Mar, 2011

      Yeah I definitely talk to my parents much more than I could have expected. In a way travelling has brought us closer.

      Reply to this comment

  6. Dani | Globetrottergirls

    28. Feb, 2011

    We miss sleeping in our own bed, too. The seasons, however, especially the winter – not so much! Something else I really miss are steaming hot showers with good water pressure – washing my hair under freezing cold water is just not fun ;-)

    Reply to this comment

    • Steph

      06. Mar, 2011

      yes, hot showers are definitely a luxury you miss on the road. And privacy.

      Reply to this comment

  7. Kimmy Kim Kims

    28. Feb, 2011

    First thing I thought: YOU GOT A FREAKING CUTE PUPPY!!! I miss chillaxing in your bed watching SVU too. :(

    Reply to this comment

  8. stef

    28. Feb, 2011

    NYC subways. They stink and they’re a germaphobe’s worst nightmare – why do i ALWAYS miss them?!

    My cats. I’m severely allergic to both of them, but I really miss being amused by them chasing each other around.

    NYC water. Seriously, it just tastes better.

    Starbucks and the brand-specific things I like from the supermarket. Not all soy milk is the same and Steph, I’m sure you remember my woes of London cereal…

    Reply to this comment

    • Steph

      06. Mar, 2011

      oh goodness this takes me back! But you can’t tell me the New York subway is better than the tube. I don’t accept that!

      Reply to this comment

      • Chloe

        15. Mar, 2011

        I love both the tube AND the NY subway. Dirty and crowded, yes, but you can get across half the city in just a few minutes with both. Where I’m from in Australia (Adelaide), the public transport system is so shockingly terrible (and expensive!), that my first encounter with the subway shocked me – if for no other reason than the trains were so frequent, so fast, and great for people watching. It’s one of the things I definitely DON’T miss about home :)

        Reply to this comment

        • Steph

          16. Mar, 2011

          I hate when cities have poor metro systems, it sucks for visitors AND residents.

          Reply to this comment

  9. Tracy Zhang

    28. Feb, 2011

    Can’t agree more about vegetating, sleeping in one’s own bed (oh how i miss my pillow) and family. There are certain foods that I also miss, when I travelled in Asia last summer, I LOVED eating their cuisine but after the first month, I started to miss pizza! haha.

    Reply to this comment

    • Steph

      06. Mar, 2011

      I miss a really good hamburger. Just can’t get it right outside the states.

      Reply to this comment

  10. Rebecca

    28. Feb, 2011

    Haha, I tried the exact opposite of weather and aimed for a never ending winter. Come 4th of July when I should have been on VACATION from work sitting on a raft in someones pool, I was in New Zealand pulling on a turtleneck sweater getting ready to walk to work in the cold wind and rain. That day was pretty hard.

    Reply to this comment

    • Steph

      06. Mar, 2011

      I did that last year when I went to Iceland for my summer vacation. It was great but I was definitely kicking myself a bit when the chill set in.

      Reply to this comment

  11. Akila

    01. Mar, 2011

    Our own bed . . . yes, yes, yes, how I missed our own bed. That being said, on our first night back we got into our own bed and both of us felt it was too soft, after sleeping on the hard Asian beds for so long!

    Reply to this comment

  12. mercedes

    01. Mar, 2011

    Ha, I had a laugh at “nobody wants to be that kid who never leaves the hostel.” So true!

    You know what I miss that I didn’t think I would? Raiding the fridge. Anytime I eat on the road I have to consciously think about what I am putting together. I miss being able to go to my fridge, stare blindly into it for ten minutes, and then find leftover chinese food or some random variation.

    And of course, to echo everyone else, my own bed!

    Reply to this comment

    • Steph

      06. Mar, 2011

      I hate cooking so I do like having to go out all the time, but it does make snacking harder.

      Reply to this comment

  13. Andrea

    03. Mar, 2011

    One of the things I really miss is vegging with you!!!

    Reply to this comment

  14. Vi

    04. Mar, 2011

    Sleeping in my own bed I miss mostly. But vegging…I do it when I am traveling too. Just spend day on the beach by doing no any activity, or just spend night in nice hotel when I am tired of backpackers.

    Reply to this comment

  15. Emily

    07. Mar, 2011

    I think these are the exact things I would miss, too! I often have trouble sleeping in new places and new beds. Though hopefully it’s something that one adapts to. I would probably also start missing food items, since I’m such a picky eater. But I hope you’re having a wonderful journey!

    Reply to this comment

  16. Claire

    09. Mar, 2011

    Great list! I definitely miss my bed at home and driving. Skype helps to stay connected with family, but there’s no substitute for my own bed and car. We’re halfway through a 6 month long trip in South America and Australia and I’m already looking forward to these things! :)

    Reply to this comment

  17. Alison

    10. Mar, 2011

    When I was studying abroad for a year I was so excited to not have a car and to be able to get everywhere I needed to locally go by foot, bike or bus. And that is something that I still miss in the U.S. I would love to live somewhere where I wasn’t dependant on a car. Recently being in a small car accident has renewed that desire even more.

    Reply to this comment

    • Steph

      14. Mar, 2011

      I know I said I missed my car, but in a way I do agree. It’s so nice not to have to worry about all the things that go along with car ownership.

      Reply to this comment

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