Most of us know folks who LOVE to travel, taking off every chance they get–whether “taking off” means a weekend jaunt or an international tour.

And most of us also know folks who really, REALLY don’t want to go anywhere.

Guess what: I’m both those people. Nice to meet you.

All the way home from my recent trip to Germany and Switzerland, Stay-Home Gretchen was happily making lists of how she’ll spend her time this week. (Grocery shopping. Revising Chapter 7. Making soup…sorry. Won’t bore you.) Meanwhile Stay-Home Gretchen’s brain kept up this chorus: “No more international travel! This is way too distracting for work, not to mention expensive! And what about your carbon footprint?”

But it’s…so…BEAUTIFUL out there!

And then Travel Gretchen looked out the plane window: “Oooh! Iceland!”

Wanna go!!! (Photo courtesy Wikimedia)

Anyone else experience this tension? I LOVE going away: new adventures, amazing scenery, old friends, culinary delights…And I LOVE staying home: comforting routine, old friends, culinary delights, amazing scenery…

Hey, wait a minute. I just realized those two lists are almost identical. 

But home ain’t no slouch either, right?

So…win-win for both Gretchens? Certainly sounds that way. Y’all know what I’m talking about?