Expectations VS Reality

I very much enjoyed the chapter on anticipation.  It really made sense to me, but this is the quote I want to discuss-

"In another paradox that Des Esseintes would have appreciated, it seems we may best be able to inhabit a place when we are not faced with the additional challenge of having to be there  (23)."

This really makes sense to anyone who has spent considerable time planning a trip, but since it makes so much sense, I am going to apply it to something completely different.  The expectation of the return home.

I came into this trip with next to no expectations, due in no small part to the fact that we had no idea what we would be doing, so I have to say that the reality trumps the anticipation in this case.  However, I am 97.3% sure that the reality of returning home will be much less grandiose than my anticipation.  Don't get me wrong, I am loving France, and Europe for that matter.  Its been a blast, but I also will be glad to be able to go to the grocery store on Sunday again!  It is the small stuff like that that seem like they will be so very amazing when we return, however I am sure that the daily grind will return within a week.

It is incredible to me how as soon as you leave a place for an extended period of time, you nearly instantly forget everything about it that drives you crazy.  You complain about having to walk everywhere, but completely disregard how much you hate traffic.  The idea of home is wonderful, especially when you aren't there.  You ignore the never-ending list of things that need done at home, and imagine it to be a place of constant merriment and relaxation where everyone is always happy and nothing ever goes wrong.

Okay, so that may be a tad exaggerated, but we still have a very optimistic view of home whenever we are cut off of it for an extended time.  When home, we need to get away, and when away, we can't wait to return.  It seems that we best inhabit the place where we aren't.  Perhaps just the act of being in a place makes it that much less desirable.

- Zak