looks like I'll be traveling soon -- and I'm trying not to have an anxiety attack

[Flaxbee]

The trip will be part pleasure, part business. But I am *stressed out* about it. Always happens to me - because I'm the one who has to arrange for cat care, arrange the travel stuff, make sure all the bills are paid while we're gone, etc. And being away from my cats, and worrying about the outdoor fella cats I feed, etc., is almost too much for me to handle.

Anyone else have this love/hate relationship with travel?

[BarenakedLady]

1. Me!

Definitely. I'm very much a homebody and any change to my "schedule" induces stress. I do like to go places though, so it is quite the conundrum. I have the same pet issue too.

[Flaxbee]

2. I have a great cat sitter, but now one of my boikats needs

daily medicine and I don't know if she (catsitter) can handle it or if I need to put my boikat up at the vet's, which he hates; I have two feral males who seem to have become rather food-dependent (though at least in spring I don't worry quite so much - have to catch those fellas soon after I get back, though, and get them snipped)... and our business is under stress, and part of this trip is to try to solidify a few projects, and it is just almost more than I can handle.

I *do* love to go places, but am also very intensely a homebody - and I've only recently been willing to admit that I'm not the intrepid traveler I've always liked to picture in my mind's eye. :D

[mokawanis]

3. absolutely

So many hassles to get things squared away before hitting the road. I have a history of coming down with minor illnesses right before a trip and I'm sure the stress I go through getting ready is a contributing factor. But...damn, I love to travel.

[Flaxbee]

4. it is difficult - when it was just me and I could walk out the

apartment w/o worrying even about a houseplant, I traveled so easily. Now, though, with a bunch o'kitties, and a bunch o'bills, it makes me damn near crazy. But then once I've done everything I can do and am on the plane, I love it. The anticipation, and preparation, though, are extremely stressful.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. I do! I do! And it's worse this year because for the first time ever I have

elderly kittehs, one of whom needs pills twice a day. *worry worry* And last time we left it got so hot in the trailer the kittehs threw up all over, and there is nothing I can do to improve that for them this time.

Do you have someone who can check in on your fur babies to help your peace of mind? :hug:

[Flaxbee]

7. yeah - we'll be having someone come in once a day --

or if I have to take boikat to the vet, then every other day. She helped us out last October when we were gone for 2 weeks, and I trust her - but still, making sure there's enough food, enough litter, blah blah blah is just *so* hard...

Who'll take care of your elderly furkids? :hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. I have an awesome neighbor who is also a cat mommy. I haven't asked her yet

but I bet she would do it. Thing is I need to clean my house right up before then because she would be horrified by the mess around here. :blush:

[Flaxbee]

10. that's another thing! Making sure the house is decent for the cat sitter...

*sigh* So much work! Nice to have a good neighbor like that - we had someone extremely trustworthy when we lived in Virginia, but I don't like our neighbors here. Bah.

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. Yeah, nothing like having good neighbors. Sorry you don't have them where you are now. :^(

[ThomCat]

6. Yes.

I feel like I put more planning into a weekend trip than the monkey put into his entire war. x(

[Flaxbee]

8. You know, I'm sure you're right

I don't think monkeyman gave even a second thought to this war, and traveling when one has kitties or any sort of special travel requirements is just very planning-intensive.

How's Gray doing? When will Silver have surgery (or has he already)? :hug: :hug:, ThomCat & kitties

[ThomCat]

12. Gray is doing well so far.

No improvment, but most importantly, no more decline. :)

I'm waiting to schedule Silver's surgery. It's not a emergency, so I think I'll put it off until I get my tax refund.

In the meantime, both are getting even more attention than I used to give them. :)

:hi:

[harmonicon]

13. Yep

I don't get too worried about the stuff at home, though I do occasionally worry that the pipes have burst or there was a break in.... still, I'm a renter, and most things worth stealing I take with me on any trip longer than a day. What I can't stand is going to and from the airport and the endless security and waiting in lines, taking my belt and shoes off, etc. I have gotten much better about it over the last year (I think I just counted 9 flights I've taken since last April) since I've been traveling so much, so there is a lot less anxiety, but some of that has to do with familiarity with an airport and the routine of it all. When I lived in LA, flying out of LAX always gave me anxiety.

[Flaxbee]

15. you know, for some reason LAX never bothered me a bit.

Newark stressed me out - getting to and from - but LAX was fine for me - perhaps just because I'm a SoCal native and didn't really know any other option.

I also hate getting from the airport to the hotel in foreign countries, unless we have friends picking us up. I think I'd feel more relaxed, actually, if we were not renters - though at least if the pipes burst it really isn't my problem...

[Zoigal]

14. Sure do...

Three dogs, all on the older side. One goes into total melt down when we are gone. Won't eat,
gets depressed, won't go outside for the sitter unless he's on a leash, etc etc. Haven't found a
sitter that is totally reliable. We need a pet sitters co-op. Too bad you live on the other side of
the US or i would volunteer to take care of your cats. Good luck...z

[Flaxbee]

17. a pet-sitter's co-op is a fantastic idea...

you could always post in your state's forum to see if there's anyone near you who'd be interested in doing it. I already know there are no DU'ers in my rinky-dink town.

It is so hard when the furkids are older and sensitive to change. :hug: Your poor doggie, s/he must get so anxious.

[lost-in-nj]

16. ME!!!

I love to plan it
and think it


but getting to my destination???

usually requires an ativn!!!!

but once I get there.... it is ALWAYS worth
it!!!!!!!!!!



:hi:



lost

[Flaxbee]

18. yes, it is always worth it, and that's what I have to keep in mind...

especially now that we've 'road tested' our cat-sitter a few times and know she's trustworthy. :hi:, lost!