We’ve been home for over three months now and the sixth of April was our one year anniversary of flying out! That means that this time last year we were in Japan and it’s really, really tempting to just look through the memories on your phone… but I feel like if that’s what you do, then that becomes all of your memories. You forget all the things that you can’t take photos of – the sounds, the smells and the feelings.

I am just about to print out a sort of travel diary (which we have between the million organisational spreadsheets – so. many. spreadsheets.). This way we can say “Hey, this time last year we were in Japan / Scotland / France” as a trigger for some reminiscing. I want the kids to remember and be appreciative of this amazing experience that we had – I mean, it was nine months across 18 countries!!

For example, when we first had our babies (those hazy, newborn days) while we were feeding the babies (which could easily take 30-40 minutes) we’d remember things from our travels. While I don’t remember exactly what I remembered, what I do remember is thinking that I hadn’t thought about whatever memory in years. It was pretty cool to be able to have those experiences to look back on – especially when you’re at a time in your life when just leaving the house is a considerable challenge.

It’s something that you can hold on to when things aren’t so good. Remembering when we all squished into a tuk tuk with all our luggage or all the Seven 11 smoothies we had. Those memories make you smile and remind you that this world is bigger than this town, this moment and that it’s always out there, ready and waiting for you, whenever you want to go.

Towards the end of the trip, and at particularly difficult times (e.g. Indonesia), it can get so hard being away from everything you know. You’re in a place where everything is a battle: you don’t know where to go to eat, you don’t speak the language, you don’t know who is trying to scam you. And the sheer logistics can be overwhelming: Where are we going? How will we get there? What activities should we do? Where are we staying tonight?

(Plus a common thought of mine: Am I going to have a comfortable bed? I don’t need more shoulder issues! I know that sounds ungrateful and petty, but believe me when you’ve been away for a while coming back to your own bed (& pillow) is bliss!)

But now we’re back in the daily routine and it’s easy to forget that we even did this thing. And we shouldn’t forget because it’s pretty awesome… and challenging (at times very challenging) but absolutely awesome at the same time.

It’s been weirdly smooth (maybe not the best word but it’s the one I think fits) fitting back into home life.

The first few weeks, you get people asking questions – usually “What was your favourite place?” – and then, over time, that becomes less and less – as you’d expect. (I did have someone ask a couple of weeks ago that I hadn’t seen since we got back who asked about the trip and I thought “Wow, there is actually someone left who I haven’t had that conversation with!”.)

So, you kind of just… slide back into things. Work, weekends, grocery shopping, exercise, the easy rhythm of home life.

One of the really good things about coming back is being in your own space. It was such a relief for all of us having a whole house after a long time together in very close quarters!

We tried not to share a single hotel room if at all possible. One of the things I looked for in any accommodation was somewhere to sit that’s not the bed. An actual couch is nice – not just one token chair between the four of us. We stayed in a lot of Airbnb style accommodation because you get more space, a little kitchen, and it’s generally cheaper than hotels for four (especially as teenagers are adult prices).

Getting back into exercise has been great too. Deliberate movement is good for the soul. I got a personal practice from my yoga teacher before we left, and I think I did it once during the trip. It’s quite hard to find not only the physical space, but also the kind of mental space. It was only a 45 minute practice but having the luxury of a room that people aren’t walking in and out of, making noise in for that long is really quite difficult.

These past three months have just flown by and I find it a bit scary how the time just melds together. That’s a thing about the routine: it’s comforting, it’s warm and it’s easy but it also blends and blurs, one week into the next. That’s one of the things I really like about traveling – there are definite lines. Last week we were in Japan, now in Indonesia and next month we’ll be in Paris. (Or if you’re in Europe it can be breakfast, lunch and dinner in different countries!)

I walk around my neighbourhood, and it’s gorgeous. I’ve previously mentioned a friend of mine, who referred to this town as Disneyland, and I’ve seen that vibe so many times since and I realise that I am so blessed to live here.

It’s nice to sleep in that comfortable bed. Nice not to have the logistics. Nice to have your own kitchen.

And yet? It’s not everything there’s still more – always more! I guess this is why I travel.

During our trip we made a list of food that we wanted to make when we got home. Some were our old home favorites, but also things from our travels that we wanted to recreate at home.

I definitely want to buy one of those fancy pizza ovens that goes up to, like 4-500°C so we can make some napoli pizza. The other thing I wanted to buy is a raclette set before the winter, particularly, because it’s cheese plus potatoes (what more does anyone need?) and a bunch of other things. It’s a very communal meal because it’s basically a hot plate in the middle of the table – and it warms up the house too.

In the last few weeks, we got a raised garden bed from our local Buy Nothing group and we’ve been planting broccoli, cauliflower, peas and rocket. It’s lovely to be able to get into the garden again. Hopefully, some of it will produce something – some of the seeds were pre-COVID!

Definitely need to print out a travel diary – and put it right next to the picture of our yard that shows what we planted and when. Two types of growth, both to be treasured.