The Annual Trip Back

Sounds like a busy trip...have fun visiting everyone! 

Not annual... last time i was back was in 2003... but i am going to visit my parents in Amarillo for a week in October.

So you know the way to....

How do you people afford to go back so often? Yea the flights are cheap enough but the 'shopping for the next 2 - 3 years worth of clothes in one go' really sucks on the old bank balance....

I find that when I do get back to the states that I like it for a day then I HATE it for a few days then settle back in and all is ok. Then I don't want to come back, then I get back here, like it for a day then HATE it for a week then I'm ok again.

So you know the way to....

How do you people afford to go back so often? Yea the flights are cheap enough but the 'shopping for the next 2 - 3 years worth of clothes in one go' really sucks on the old bank balance....

Naw, you've got it the wrong way round.  The flights are the expensive bit.  The 2-3 years worth of clothes shopping is the ultra-super-bargain cheap bit!       

Carolyn - sounds like quite a trip, but worthwhile in the end! AND worth it for the weather, when r u going?

As for the yo-yo of culture shock, I'm looking forward to it in a way when i go back in July for 2 weeks. I'm doing a bit of a tour for friends/family and I'm sure i'll miss some things from here and then I'm sure i'll miss america when I get back.

Both are inexpensive for me, but I can go at random times which makes the ticket really cheap and the shopping, double the amount of what you could get here. (Plus always there when they have the sales, I work it well)

I am on my annual trip right now and British hubby had to go back earlier.  He was so sad, he loves it here. Both my children have had chicken pox and the flu, but I kind of needed the break anyway.

I'm loving Wendys, the massive parking spaces, talking on a cell while driving (and feeling very naughty), shopping!

Digital cameras, laptops all are half what they would be in the UK.

This place is a consumer's paradise.

However, I am not going as crazy as I did when I lived in Eastern Europe- boy did I miss shopping then!

We are booking our flights next week to go back in September, we went last November for Thanksgiving and we try to make it once a year.

Going earlier this year for a bit warmer weather as hubby hasn't been to Indiana yet when there hasn't been any snow on the ground.

And I agree, the flights are the worst bit, the shopping is absolutely fantastic! I am a big shopper and everything seems so cheap after UK prices!

I am getting excited about my first trip this year - leaving at the end of March and will be in Orlando for a week.  I'm not from there but am meeting my parents, sister, and 2 nieces & nephew for a week at Disney.  It will be a great treat for me to be able to be with the little ones as they basically have the time of their lives!  I can't wait to watch their faces (well the baby is too little, but the other ones will enjoy it). 

I'm already starting to figure out which stores are around there that I frequent and what I should start ordering online to ship to my parents' so they can bring things to me when we meet up.

I am not sure I'll go back again until December when DH graduates.  Then we'll go only for a few days and come back, and then go back AGAIN probably for Christmas.  But that will be in Chicago, so I'll do all my fun reminiscent Chicago things then.

Annual??! Are you mad?!? I think I'll aim for once every five years, but even that might prove to be too much!    

Well I imagine there will come a day when I don't go back every year, or when we just can't afford it (hope not!).  But more than the desire to go, I still have certain familial obligations there (mom & her situation) -- funny thing is that I can manage to fly all the way from here to see her at least once a year, but one of my two siblings just can never seem to manage that long trip from Maryland to Kansas.

And I do miss my brother in Atlanta and I miss Tampa Bay -- the climate and my friends there & my old cat.  I am hoping to take Steve to some more cool places in the States too -- like the Rocky Mountains for example, as time goes by.  If I go by myself I can usually fly on a standby pass, and of course then the airfare is much cheaper.  But Steve likes to go (we don't like being apart from each other ) and standby is kinda iffier if you have to stick to a particular schedule, get back on a certain day for work, etc.

  Carolyn - sounds like quite a trip, but worthwhile in the end! AND worth it for the weather, when r u going? 

We are going this spring!  My brother in Atlanta told us last year that we should come when the wildflowers are in bloom, so we are!

And the clothes...I really have a hard time finding clothes here (in the UK) that fit me attractively and that I like, not to mention finding shoes that I like that are wider.  Part of it is that I'm picky (I think) and part of it -- the plus size women's retail market here (variety of brands & selection) just isn't good.  So I'm wearing all this stuff that's hanging off me (due to weight loss) 'cause I can't find something to replace it.  Maybe when I lose some more weight (and wear smaller sizes), the shopping won't be so dire -- but until then, I live for these US clothes shopping junkets plus everything is cheaper too!   [I know I could mail order more stuff here, but I'm just not a fan of buying clothes like that -- if I can't try it on first.]

And the clothes...I really have a hard time finding clothes here (in the UK) that fit me attractively and that I like, not to mention finding shoes that I like that are wider. 

Amen to that.  I have the worst time finding any suits that are petite over here, and when I do they are either very old lady or not very nice quality, or they cost a fortune and still have to be altered to fit properly.  The entire process from starting to look to actually putting the suit on to wear to work takes like a month!!  I got 3 when I was home at Christmas and will get more in Florida, I hope. 

The only other problem is I STILL generally have to get them altered, and when I get them at home and get them altered here, it costs almost as much as the suit itself! The last 3 suits I had altered here were nearly 25 pounds each!!!

Who said consumer paradise? That is an understatement.

Even still, me and my daughter, last time, spent thousands We saved thousands. We took only  the clothes on our back (and a change of underwear). We took 4 empty bags and then bought 2 more and mailed a box as well! Clothes and shoes mainly, for 2 women, 1 man, 2 teenagers and 1 toddler. After we crossed off everything on the list, we then raided the candy sections. We was LOADED down, my ex picked us up at the airport and we JUST got everything into the car. It was a cramped drive, I am sure a policeman could have done us for something...surprised customs didn't stop us.

Here's an idea that we used...The boy wanted trainers (Nike type and gave us a list) We took pics in the stores and emailed them to him and then bought what they viewed. Technology-ain't it great?! We got exactly what everybody wanted and more. No clothes shopping for the next few years (well at least for me - I still have clothes that are nearly 20 years old).  

In surfing for a hotel to book in Kansas (the town where my mom is, which is not Wichita), one of the local hotels was reviewed:  "Only stay in this hotel as a last resort!  In fact, only stay in this town as a last resort!"  Cracked me up...it couldn't be more true.

In surfing for a hotel to book in Kansas (the town where my mom is, which is not Wichita), one of the local hotels was reviewed:  "Only stay in this hotel as a last resort!  In fact, only stay in this town as a last resort!"  Cracked me up...it couldn't be more true.

Unreal. Is that called reverse advertising or honest advertising?

Did they look ok?

Unreal. Is that called reverse advertising or honest advertising?

Did they look ok?

No, it's as real and honest as it gets -- I grew up around there.   The hotels are ok -- I know where they all are, etc.

Who said consumer paradise? That is an understatement.

Tell me about it! I call the US my wholesale warehouse!

My husband and I went back in Jan and came back with four large suitcases filled with new clothes, shoes, etc. I went back again in Feb with two large empty suitcases and shopped all over again. I could barely handle lifting and pushing the suitcases on my own in the airport....but it was worth it! No more worrying about the High Street crowds and prices for quite a while!