Winding Down
AKA: Landing
Like a kite swept up in the sea air, I was riding high during the week that my husband and I spent camping along the ocean on Hunting Island, South Carolina. Mid-week, I commented to him how much better I feel at the ocean. No stress. No afternoon naps, almost as if the remnant of Chronic Fatigue that I still struggle with was in remission.
After a week of waking with the sunrise and a view of the ocean from our camper window, it was time to head for the highway that would eventually lead us back home to the mountains. But the further we got away from the beach the more deflated I began to feel. Within a half and hour of leaving, my kite crashed. By the time we passed a strip mall of fast food stores and motels, and even though it was only 11 a.m., I slumped down in my seat and fell asleep.
“I feel like dead weight,” I said to my husband when I woke up. “I guess I’m no longer being buoyed up by all those health-giving negative ions that come from the ocean.”
“You’re getting out of your element. You grew up surrounded by the ocean and bay. It’s in your blood,” he answered.
“It’s like eating protein all week and then eating a meal full of all carbs,” I continued to complain and wondered if I hadn’t hit on something related to a physiological explanation as to why people have a hard time readjusting after a vacation and sometimes feel depressed.
Although, my energy is fragile, like the canary in the mine who feels the effect of changes sooner than others, my reaction to leaving the ocean caught me off guard. I was fulfilled by our week of camping and content to go home. My reaction was shocking to me because it was clearly physical.
Being away from the ocean left me feeling like a fish out of water. But aren’t we all? The umbilical cord to the primordial sea of life had been cut. It was time to learn to breathe on my own again.
March 12th, 2006 10:21 pm
i have plenty of snow for snow angels!!
here from michele
March 12th, 2006 11:18 pm
Have you ever had your Vitamin D checked?
You are right, even though I get tired of living out of a suitcase when on vacation, it is always a let down to get back. Hope you feel better.
March 12th, 2006 11:41 pm
Joe is right.
And, thank God you can always come HOME!
March 13th, 2006 12:28 am
For me.. The problem is coming home to a mess.. The deflated feeling is knowing i’m coming home to a world of things that have to be done.. A world of must do’s and must have’s from the kids to the family and everything that goes with it.. I’m glad you enjoyed your trip..
March 13th, 2006 8:11 am
When I lived in Maine I often felt depressed and lacked the energy to contemplate the normal chores of everyday life. I’m much better here, where the seasons change more quickly and I can get more sun. These days leaving to GO on vacation is a let-down!
March 13th, 2006 9:03 am
I am glad you had a great time. Sorry you crashed. I live in an ocean community and it is so amazing how the ocean makes you feel. After I visit my folks in VT, I always stand outside my house and breathe….
March 13th, 2006 9:10 am
Welcome back! Hope you are feeling back up to par soon. I haven’t posted yet today – just trying to answer the comments. My weekend was very weird. Very weird.
March 13th, 2006 10:20 am
Had a wonderful weekend until a very close friend of mine had a bad stroke. We don’t know much right now but I stayed to take care of granny and about 15 others went to the hospital where she’s being treated. We prob won’t know anything new until Wednesday or so. It was just very strange and unexpected how it all happened.
March 13th, 2006 11:09 am
I would feel the same way. I feel this way when I go to visit family only 20 minutes away. I hate coming home to my house in the city. I never want to come home! Its good you had a nice time by the ocean:)
March 13th, 2006 12:45 pm
I acutally love where I live and thrive on the green space and mountain views. In days past doctors would send patients to the ocean for cures. I think I was being buoyed up by all the healing energy the ocean gives off and when I left it I fell flat…almost as though I was being propped up artificially. I’m land bound again, but doing okay now. It’s also true that I was born and grew up by the ocean and so it is part of me and I feel at home near it.
And like Leslie said, once I’m home…leaving to GO on vacation is the let down!
March 13th, 2006 2:42 pm
Glad to read in the prior comment that you are feeling better…take good care of yourself !
March 13th, 2006 3:12 pm
It’s the “coast” part that makes me an East Coaster, even though it’s a good 40 minute drive from my house to the Jersey Shore.~,:^)
March 13th, 2006 9:19 pm
I think it is something about the salt air at the ocean, it is ionized or something. Welcome home salty dog. 😉
March 13th, 2006 11:05 pm
Yes .. I can see where this would be hard. I do believe there is magic in the ocean air.