traveling back to your old haunts...

There are four places I've been back to in as recently as the past four years.

Oddly, the level of my desire to return to each work backwards chronologically.

Washington DC area: I attended K thru 3 in McLean, VA. I'll actually be returning there to visit at the end of this month, and also another trip there next month. My family's in the area and I see it to hold no past memories other than the family tradition of whenever any family member visits, we all have to pile in the car and drive by the old house, keeping low in the car so the neighbors (who still live across the street) don't know we're doing this.

Frankfurt Germany: I was there for 5th and 6th grades, and we drove by Camp King a couple years ago to see where I used to live, and they were in the process of demolishing the whole street. It was emotionally devastating and I cried buckets. But I would go back, with no hesitation, to see the area again.

Carlisle Pennsylvania: Grade 4, and then again grades 7 thru 12. We went back for my 30th high school reunion. Everyone was the same. The old haunts still standing. It was...actually rather depressing to see this little community caught in a time warp. I really felt I was in the Twilight Zone. But, it also gave me a feeling of being 17 and going to football games. It was just really strange seeing so many people all in one room that I knew! I'd go back, but I'm not sure what I'd do if I did. I feel like I've moved on while they haven't. And I'd probably start saying "Ignernt" again.

Naples, Florida: The previous 20 years before here. (If you could see me you'll note that I'm holding both my index fingers up, together forming an "X".) N o . w a y . do . i . e v e r . w a n t . t o . g o . b a c k . Mostly to do with ex issues. But there really isn't anything there for me any more. Any friends I had have moved on themselves.

Anyway, I know that when I get there I'll be fine, but right now I have no interest in being in the US, surrounded by Americans, with everything that's so ... "American," for lack of a better description. Has anyone else felt this way before their first return trip?

That's how I feel before every return trip.  That's how I feel whilst I'm there.  And that's why I can't wait to get back home after each venture *over there.* 

That's how I feel before every return trip.  That's how I feel whilst I'm there.  And that's why I can't wait to get back home after each venture *over there.* 

ditto

I left my native city (Houston) in 1989.  So it didn't feel like 'home' when I left to emigrate to the UK.  Didn't have many 'haunts' as when I left at 18 I had no car and you have to drive everywhere in Houston, so I didn't get out much.

Now Denver is another matter.  I lived there for 8 years before coming here.  There are a lot of 'haunts' I'd like to visit just b/c they have good food or are exceptional places to visit. 

There are some places, however, which I don't know that I can ever go back to b/c of the intense emotions I felt in them.  It's best just to leave them as they were when I went away - in my mind. 

I haven't had a long-term home in so long that actually staying in one place longer than three years seems odd to me. Ex is military so we moved a lot. I'm originally from Missouri but haven't lived there in years. The place that feels most like home to me is Tulsa. It's where my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all live and we used to go there every summer, Thanksgiving and Christmas when I was growing up. Now my sister and mother live there as well. I've lived there twice now, once from 1982 to 1984 and again from 2002 to 2004. I wouldn't hesitate to live there again if DH wanted to move there with me.

Norfolk is a big Naval military base so my dad was stationed there until he retired ..I went to Uni there  and worked for my dad at the Frame shop he opened after he retired. He had 3 shops around the area (Hampton , Chesapeake, Virginia Beach ) so I pretty much ran around the cities....I never liked it there so I was glad to leave. When I was there visiting last week I remember how annoying it was to try to walk around without some gimp thug approaching you to chat you up... My dad took the car one day and I had to venture to the shops for a phonecard...all you hear if you're walking on the pavement is "Yo girl , hey , how you doing!?" "Ay gurl , hello!?" ...I mainly keep walking but dang Jess kept turning her head and waving at whoever was shouting...must teach that child to be coy before puberty

I've been fortunate in growing up in one city that I adore.  I am sad to see it slowly turning into Newport Beach, ala "The O.C.", with more and more 'new' money pouring in - and let's not forget that apparently it has/had? it's own series  ; as Laguna (is still, but mostly) was once known as 'the last liberal spot in Orange County', and a bohemian/artistic community, which was it's very origin.  And I've always been sad, when driving down what used to be a wide, empty space where all you could see was green hills on one side, and the Pacific on the other between Corona del Mar and Laguna, is now popping up with million dollar homes (or more), that all look alike.  And particularly depressing is finding out that the few beach shacks, one of which one of my oldest friends' families used to own, has now been bought up by some hotel company, to be refurbished and rented out at approx. $250 per night!

And now next time I go back, I'll see what they've done with the part of town that just suffered another landslide - http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-landslide2jun02,0,6975643.story?coll=la-home-headlines - 17 homes lost; fortunately, no human lives, but lots of family pets.  :\\\'(

As far as L.A./Hollywood goes - I actually see improvement when I've gone back.

I'm glad I chose to live in the U.K., and I love that I have such a beautiful place to go back and visit.

There are some things that change...others stay the same.  Every time I head home to PA I go to the same pub...and the same guys are there & they remember me from YEARS ago.  It's my own personal Cheers!  But the area itself changes a bit as do the people who are still there or have moved back.  I think I'd be worried if NEPA stayed the same or changed too dramatically!

I go back often so nothing seems to change  alot!  When I moved back to NYC from Boston everything seemed to change when I would go visit Boston again.  Harvard Square is like a different world to me, I hate that!!!!

I was gone from Boston for a year.  I worked in Harvard Square and can't believe the changes to Brattle Street.  Still, as long as The Border and Woolcott & Co. are there, I'll be back.

I was gone from Boston for a year.  I worked in Harvard Square and can't believe the changes to Brattle Street.  Still, as long as The Border and Woolcott & Co. are there, I'll be back.

I think I would have to boycott the "Square" if The Border was not there anymore!!!

When they closed the Tasty, I cried!!!

I think I would have to boycott the "Square" if The Border was not there anymore!!!

When they closed the Tasty, I cried!!!

I think I pre-date you! I lived in Cambridge for one summer (1980) and was devastated when I came back a few years later to find Belgian Fudge Ice Cream and Serendipity were gone.  :\\\'(  Is 33 Dunster Street still around?

This is a rather interesting topic.

My city is extremeley fast growing. In the late 90's, I spent 2 weeks away, and when I returned there were now buildings on former empty lots, and a great deal had happened. It was 2 weeks!

I can only imagine what will happen in the course of a few years. But, as other posters have said, you cannot return home again. So, like many of you, I instead plan to create a new home, which I have more control over, so that I don't go and visit my home, but I rather leave home to visit another city in which I formerly lived in.

Even if my home is a temporary college haunt, it is still where I live, and where I will plant new roots.

I think I pre-date you! I lived in Cambridge for one summer (1980) and was devastated when I came back a few years later to find Belgian Fudge Ice Cream and Serendipity were gone.  :\\\'(  Is 33 Dunster Street still around?

Awwwee!!!  I know how you feel.  I think 33 Dunster is still there.  Not sure!

Awwwee!!!  I know how you feel.  I think 33 Dunster is still there.  Not sure!

I don't think so, but I'll check on it later today.  Were they still having love-ins on the Common during the summer of 1980?  Shows you how old I am!

  Every time I head home to PA I go to the same pub...and the same guys are there & they remember me from YEARS ago.  It's my own personal Cheers! 

This was running through my head as I was reading this.  I went to the same pub throughout college and the 2-3 years afterward and it really was my own Cheers -- everybody yelled "LOLA!" when I walked in (should I be ashamed of that?!  ).  I haven't been back on any visits back to the US...partly because that pub is nearly 500 miles from my family (we go to my hometown rather than the town I lived in during college), and partly because I'm afraid nobody will yell "LOLA!" when I walk in.