Transitioning Back to "Real Life" After a Chase Vacation

[JamesCaruso]

I am flying home after a two week chase vacation, and although I have been doing this for 16 out of the last 18 years, it never gets any easier to say goodbye to the storms of the Great Plains.

There is such emotional engagement in chasing, it is such an adventure, so different than day to day suburban, corporate, domestic life, and I find it can take weeks or even a month or two to transition back to "normal." You may say that this is the case with getting back to the routine after any vacation, but I would dispute that. I do not find the transition from other vacations to be nearly as difficult. If I create great memories on a family vacation, that togetherness is not ending when I come home. If I live the "island lifestyle" for a week in the Caribbean, when I leave for home I take comfort in the fact that I can recreate at least some aspect of that by just throwing on some Jimmy Buffet or reggae tunes and cracking open a beer while I grill some cheeseburgers, or visit friends at the shore for the weekend. If my wife and I go on a cruise, I know that when we get home we will still have occasion to go out to dinner together or sit by the local pool at the swim club.

But chasing? It is like being in another world completely. There is no way to duplicate any aspect of the experience, especially living in the Philadelphia suburbs. If I armchair chase a great setup, it only makes it worse, as I experience an intense yearning to be under the meso I see on radar. I find that it is almost better to tune out completely; why think about food or read about great dessert recipes if you have to go on a diet?!?

I do not recall ever seeing much about this "transition" experience. Just about the only place I have read anything about it is in Jenna Blum's novel, "The Stormchasers," in which she does a great job describing the feeling and is apparently a kindred spirit in that regard. I have heard, anecdotally, that people who take other adventure vacations may have similar challenges transitioning back to real life.

So I am curious to hear the thoughts of other chase vacationers. Do you have trouble transitioning or not? If so, what are some strategies you use to smooth the transition? Do you like to keep tabs on what's going on with Plains weather or do you find it easier to ignore it completely, maybe beginning your learning again after the season when you no longer feel like you are missing anything?

In a poor year like 2014, it is somewhat easier to transition back to real life because I am not leaving something quite as exciting. But even one good chase day creates memories that make it hard to leave, and ultimately the experience is less satisfying. In a good chase year, the trip is more satisfying and then even harder to leave.

If you live on the Plains, I think your situation is somewhat different because you may not have that total sense of immersion that one gets from two or three weeks of straight chasing. And you don't necessarily have to wait an entire 50 weeks for your next chase opportunity. But perhaps your own strategies for frequently getting in and out of chase mode for a day or three at a time can help chase vacationers like me!

Jim Caruso





Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Mark Ellinwood]

As a fellow East Coaster, it takes me about a week to get used to being back from a 2+ week chasecation, if just for getting back into a regular routine. While many people get in the mindset of "oh man look at what I'm missing" or "I really wish I was there right now," I take a different look at it. Instead of lamenting over what I am missing, I prefer to think about how nice it was to have gone out and experienced what I did, knowing that I did the best that I could while I was on my chasecation. Shrug off the bad days and fully enjoy and appreciate the good days.

If a chaser focuses on the negative aspects of not being there or missing out on an event, then there's going to be a lot of depressing times considering the limited amount of time there is to be out there to create positive experiences. It's best to just focus on enjoying what you were there for and for what may come in the future.

 

[JohnHuntington]

Nicely written and I agree....

I'm solving the problem by heading back out (tagged some time on the front of a work trip

John

 

[Rob H]

Yes, I have issues transitioning even on short trips, and it's especially bad when you deal with a disaster zone close up. I was explaining to a non-chaser friend the lack of sleep, dozens of hours of drive time, the life or death decisions, seeing the damage, etc. and he suggested that some storm chasers likely deal with a minor form of PTSD, which explains a lot.

 

[Paul Knightley]

It can be a real shock coming back to England after 2 weeks or so on the Plains - the culture is different, the landscape is different, and, of course, the weather is different.

Some of the hardest times to re-adjust have been where the last day or 2 of the trip has been manic, with huge supercells, tornadoes, etc - to come back to a 'normal' UK life after that can be very hard to comprehend, certainly for the first few days.

However, I think the biggest thing to get over is not so much the storms themselves, but the fact that living a nomadic lifestyle for a couple of weeks, where the things which matter are: finding a storm; finding a bed; finding gas; finding food, is great fun! To have to come back to working, chores, etc, is hard! Of course, we have to because chasing doesn't pay for itself (for most folks anyway). One thought is that next year seems to far away, but life has shown me that it will actually pass quickly, and then it gets scary to think about what can happen within the next year, and will life be different by the time I next go? That's the stage where I tend to get over the fact chasing is over this year, and start living my 'normal' life again!

 

[ChristofferB]

Interesting point and I feel very much the same. I was only able to chase for 6 days this year and only one of these days was an actual chase day! So, basically I waited for a full year only to have one day. I keep coming back to Twitter & StormTrack, read about other's experiences etc but it is quite painful at times, especially when you hear about great storms etc. Yeah, the withdrawal is bad for me!

Paul: It looks like fun is not really over for you though, I see a Moderate Risk over parts of England today! Sweden is typically disqualified from having any type of severe weather, ever. Unfortunately, I don't have a car but otherwise I may have gone down the continental part of Europe this week.

 

[JohnHuntington]

I think the biggest thing to get over is not so much the storms themselves, but the fact that living a nomadic lifestyle for a couple of weeks, where the things which matter are: finding a storm; finding a bed; finding gas; finding food, is great fun!

Excellent point, and I hadn't thought of that. I've had the same experience on long multi-day or week outdoor trips (kayaking, biking, etc). It's the simplicity of it. And Storm chasing adds a lot more excitement to that equation.

John

 

[Scott Sheppard]

We are lucky to have a passion that is so enjoyable for us. I can identify with the withdrawal. Personally I have found it helps to inject other types of adventures throughout the rest of the year.

 

[John Olexa]

I don't really have any withdrawals because I'm always photographing something weather wise. Clouds (all types) rainbows, fog, lightning, snowstorms/blizzards ect ect.

 

[Deano]

Great topic.

The depression for me is huge and this last week at work has been rough, its like it never happened and lasts quite a while, some times it takes me up to and over a month to get over a few weeks storm chasing.
Eventually the pain fades in August and here in Australia our season picks up Late Sept, but more so mid October through January, so I get my storm fix every 6 months or so but its still nothing compared to chasing the plains.

Everything about it is great the long drives, lack of sleep, all the funny in jokes and laughing that occurs thanks to days of lack of sleep, the banter, chasing a hotel room for the night in a place that you can watch the light show from your room or hotel spa.
The places you stay, the people you meet, the tiny towns you drive through and stop in with the locals loving the Aussie accent, the amazing green fields of wheat and corn the bubbling cu, the flat country. The great food at Applebees Dennys, Ihop and Quiznos and the odd Golden corral buffet all so bad its good.

The great net coverage, watching the new model updates come in, reading out the new Meso discussions, Tornado watches and NWS forecast policy's to everyone in the car, Listening to the radio awaiting the first warning coming over the radio and there breaking in severe weather coverage. The excitement when a tornado warning pops up on GRL3 or the radio.
Looking over the meso analysis page every 5 mins hoping its changed.
Checking the new HRRR run, the hours sitting on a dirt road in the middle of no where watching a storm build and feeling the moist SE winds flow into it and the silence before other chasers arrive is defending, yet calming and relaxing but also exciting as you watch it build hoping it produces.

Waking up to see the racing stratus and gusty SE winds with Dps in the 60s and the weather channel talking it up.
The way you plan your gas up times so you aren't stuck with no fuel under a meso, the shocking gas station food the very late nights getting ready for the next day and staying ahead of the squall or MCS. The early mornings eating the hotel breakfast looking at the models while the weather channel is on in the background saying tor con 6 today in the central plains today be weather ready.

The hours driving up and Down Interstate 35, 40, 70, 80, 90, and Up and down Highway 83 183 283 and MANY MANY more and stopping at the same gas station and subway or quinos every time.
Hearing the same song like 50 times in the one week and singing along to it by the end of the week, then every time you hear that song even years later it still reminds you of the plains

The daily lightning shows the rain, hail, wall clouds, anvils, and some days the crazy chaser convergence.
The checking Facebook and forums at the end of the day to see how everyone else did and meeting some of them at Dennys, Ihop, Applebees at 1am in the morning.

All the crazy traditions, mascots, little toys, stickers, lucky what ever so and so you have in the hope it will get you a tornado.

There is just NOTHING i can fault about chasing, I LOVE every part of it.

Standing out in the flat plains watching a storm grow, or produce, after hours, days, weeks, months of waiting and forecasting, is the best feeling in the world and you are high for so many hours after its just the best day ever.

So now that i have reminiscent so much, i am now even more depressed lol.

I try and take lots of little trips during the year, always planning the next little trip to stop the PHD (Post Holiday Depression).

But totally agree with what Paul said its the simpleness of it the easy worries and all the fun and excitement thrown in.
Then you come back and its like was it all just a dream, but the pics and video show that it wasn't and you pine to be back there, but it eventually fades and like Paull said you cant wait to be back next year, but will it be the same, you might chase with others, you may not be able to go, alot happens in a year.

Is It May yet?

PS sorry for the very long post, got a tad excited its alot of fun and hard for so many to understand how much fun and how happy we are out on the plains every day when chasing.

PPS This didn't really answer your question James sorry about that, but yeah only thing for me every year is that it eventually fades a month or 2 after i get back and you get fully involved in every day life again. Also the season ends the pictures and forecasts stop, summer kicks in over there and yeah it just fades out before picking up again Late March the following year.

 

[Shane Adams]

Passion has two sides, and they are equal in their intensity. But all the misery can be wiped away by one great tornado day. The problem this year is, there has been no tornado day. But the more the misery piles up, the greater the happiness will be when we finally break through again. Tornado hunting gives me plenty of depressing times, because it means everything to me. It's worth it, to be able to have something in life I'm so passionate about and that fills me with so much joy. Many people never find such a thing. I guess to answer your question, I deal with the depression by imaging how happy I'm gonna be when I document my next tornado.

 

[James Simonds]

Interesting this topic came up. It was just yesterday that I was looking on radar at a tornado warned cell. Good structure (on radar), good rotation, overall a pretty good storm. And the entire time all I kept thinking was "wow, I wish I was there." Only in terms of storm chasing can I wish I was 75 miles north and truly mean it.

Here in Michigan we don't have much action, so it can be quite a long time between events. Made worse by the fact I don't have the funds or time to go on a chasecation, I can only cling to past events. In fact, it was a month ago today (May 12) we had some nice supercells in SE Michigan, and yet I'm still thinking about that day. Thinking about the awe inspiring sight of the ominous clouds. Thinking about the hail rattling the roof of my car. Thinking about something that happened a month prior. Once again, only for storm chasing can that be said.

It's the closest parallel I can draw to being an addict. In a lot of ways, chasers are addicts; it's just our drug of choice is severe weather. But being under the base of a rotating meso produces such a euphoric "high," and the eventual crash occurs. "Real life" is bland and mundane in comparison.

I alleviate this to a degree by not thinking about it. I'll focus on other things like work, and spend my free time doing my other hobbies. And when that itch for severe weather arises, I'll even ignore the forecasts, model runs, and videos for a couple days. It's proven to be the only means of keeping my sanity, especially this year.

 

[Paul Knightley]

Part of the getting over process for me is to try and not look at the US weather for a bit when I get home! Easier for me as 1) I'm 4,500 miles from the Plains, and 2) I'm a meteorologist in the UK, so I can look at our weather. There have been some big storms over here and especially across Europe to keep me interested, although I've not been chasing them. But it's really just to try and not think about chasing for a bit!

I think you have to be able to get over it otherwise you'll end up spiralling into some form of depression, if you pardon the pun.

 

[Jeff House]

Excellent post by Deano on page 1; everything written is spot on! Also I agree with the original post by James, but for slightly different reasons. I get post vacation blues after any trip. Can't ski good mountains in town; only a cruise ship can go in the middle of the sea and stop at exciting ports; and, tropical islands are only in the tropics. I believe the mental investment in our storm chasing trips is why the post vaca blues are more intense after storm chasing.

Resorts and cruise ships have directors and we enjoy their programming. Okay storm tours do too. But for most of us chasing independently, we ARE the resort/cruise director. We program the trip. Pick the motels; pick eateries; forecast; nowcast; navigate; document; socialize; and, everything Deano said. The emotional highs and lows of a chase are unique. Many of us go on a guys/gals/friends trip totally away from even family responsibility. When I go back to the Great Plains I'm visiting old friends and coworkers on down/rest days. The social and science nexus of a storm chasing trip is so unique and incredible, but I propose the biggest mental/emotional investment is being our own resort/cruise director. We go from total control, other than nature, to regular hum drum life post-vaca.

All that said, I'm usually okay after a good trip. It is fun to share the video and still pix with people in Tenn. Also I guess I still have some hope being in Dixie Alley, but it is just not the same as the Great Plains. A good trip satisfies me; bad trip means I go out again. This year we whiffed Mother's Day weekend; probably deserved to whiff for going THAT weekend, lol. Gustnado Nation last week was fun even though we did not book any traditional tornadoes. I'm fine. Maybe next year we'll get another Rozel.

Other outdoor hobbies helps. Still got beach summer and mountain hiking ahead. Fall color is awesome around here; then, it is ski season. Other seasonal hobbies help get back to spring faster. Stay positive!

 

[Dan Robinson]

I come from a different angle on this question. Since I moved to the Midwest in 2010, I've had a never-ending storm season. Here, tornado events are spread out fairly evenly through the entire year, and require a fairly continuous monitoring of forecasts and a need to be in "chase standby" mode all the time - even in the dead of winter. So, when I get home from a Plains chase trip, I can never fully disengage from that mode. I've quite literally been on a 4 & a half year-long "chase trip" with a "chase base" here in the Midwest. In some ways, I miss the ability to put storm chasing "away" for the year and focus on other things like I did when I lived far away from here. There's some blessing in that. It keeps the novelty of the spring season intact and fresh every year. Would I trade all of my "off season" non-Plains tornadoes to have that again? Probably not - but if I was forced to due to life circumstances out of my control, I could definitely accept it.