Preparing for a vacation can be a lot of work.

"Tell me truthfully, is it more of a difficulty coming or going from a vacation?" I am writing this on the verge of waiting for a limo driver who will whisk us off to J.F.K. for a flight to Greece and a Mediterranean cruise. I have always yearned for this type of vacation, but it sure tired me out getting ready for it.

Time is running out before our car arrives!

Going:

Are the passports in order? Are the dates correct? Do we need any visas for any of these countries? How much money do we need? Aboard ship no dollars are required - only a registered credit card is valid. The dollar has slumped and the Euro is king. Are our immigration papers in order?

Do we have travelers insurance in case of an emergency (sickness or an accident)? Will we make our connections in plenty of time or not?

How about canceling the newspapers? We get three daily papers and we have to cancel all three. The waiting for a real person to speak with is a real trial. Pressing numbers is not a lot of fun.

"Thank you for holding! All agents are handling other customers! Please hold on and we will be right with you!" This is repeated over and over again. Even when you get a human voice, you are not sure that they will obey your instructions. Ask your neighbors to check the house and get rid of any newspapers in the driveway.

Next, we must shut our mail off. Someone must collect the mail and make sure it is safely stored. When we get back there will be a tub full of mail to be sorted through. That will require three or four hours of work. Junk mail included.

Before leaving I must carefully check to see I have not forgotten to cancel all appointments and dates during my absence. I am never 100 percent sure I have done this completely.

Coming home:

The trauma of returning home hits on the last two days of vacation. Doubts of everything being in order on your return set in. Re-entering your old life will be a difficulty. Was the vacation worth it?

These are the pluses and minuses of going and coming home from a vacation.

Enjoy it anyway.