After a few days in Birmingham, we came home with new connections, stories to share, and a renewed appreciation for comfortable pants.
We love exploring. Finding a local breakfast spot, wandering through somewhere unfamiliar, and meeting people are some of our favorite parts of traveling.
Coming home has its own appeal, though. There’s the pet reunion, of course. Then there are the smaller comforts: knowing where everything is, settling into familiar routines, and making dinner without reading a single restaurant review.
In this episode of The Arner Adventures Podcast, we’re talking about the joy of coming home, how our idea of home has changed, and the simple comforts we’re making room for this season.
What do you look forward to when you come home?
It’s an easy question, but the answers can tell us quite a bit about what makes our daily lives enjoyable.
A favorite chair. Coffee made exactly how we like it. A familiar walking route with the dogs. The freedom to have a quiet evening without needing to make the most of a trip.
These things can become so familiar that we barely notice them. A few days away gives us a chance to appreciate them again.
For us, loving travel and enjoying being home fit comfortably together. We want to explore places that interest us and have an everyday life we’re happy to return to.
Our idea of home has changed
We’ve sold a house, downsized our belongings, and changed where we live. Those decisions have given us plenty of opportunities to think about what makes a place feel like ours.
Some comforts travel well. Familiar routines, time together, and the company of our pets help us settle in wherever we’re living.
A smaller space also asks us to pay attention to what earns its place. The things we use and enjoy regularly matter. So does having room to sit down and relax without a list of household projects staring back at us.
In the episode, we talk about how those changes have shaped our relationship with home and what we value in it now.
Making room for hygge season
As the evenings get darker earlier, we’re finding ourselves drawn to slower nights at home.
Hygge is often associated with candles, blankets, and warm drinks. Those can be lovely parts of it. The feeling of comfort and contentment is what makes us want to return to it.
That might happen over a simple dinner together, or while watching a movie we’ve seen so many times we can quote it. It could also mean inviting someone over and letting the conversation last longer than planned.
There’s no need to turn a comfortable evening into an elaborate production. We already have enough things asking for our attention.
Simple ways to enjoy being home
If you’re ready for a little more comfort in your everyday life, start with something you already enjoy.
Give yourself an evening with breathing room
Before filling an open spot on the calendar, consider whether you’d enjoy leaving it open. Having time to decide what you feel like doing can be a pleasure in itself.
Make an easy meal you look forward to
Soup, leftovers, or a familiar recipe all count. Choose something that suits the amount of energy you actually have.
Change the lighting
A lamp can make a room feel different in seconds. Softer lighting is one of the easiest ways to help an evening feel more relaxed.
Return to a familiar pleasure
Read a few chapters. Listen to music. Walk the dogs. Choose something you enjoy without measuring how useful it was.
Ask what feels comfortable to you
Your ideal evening might include friends around the table. Someone else’s might involve a book and a closed door. Make room for the kind of connection or quiet you want.
Listen to The Joy of Coming Home
In this week’s conversation, we’re discussing:
- The everyday comforts we look forward to after traveling.
- How downsizing and moving have changed our idea of home.
- What a satisfying evening at home looks like for each of us.
- Simple ways to make room for slower moments before the holidays.
For more inspiration, read our guide to creating a hygge environment.
What’s the first thing you look forward to when you get home from a trip? We’d love to hear what makes home feel good to you.
FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions
Coming home means returning to familiar surroundings, favorite routines, and the people or pets we’ve missed. After navigating unfamiliar places and making travel decisions, it’s comforting to know where the coffee is and to sleep in our own bed.
Absolutely. We love exploring new places and having an everyday life we’re happy to return to. Enjoying time at home gives us something to look forward to between adventures.
Hygge is a Danish concept associated with comfort, coziness, and contentment. At home, that might mean sharing a simple meal, reading under a soft lamp, or enjoying an unhurried conversation. Start with whatever helps you feel comfortable and present.
Use what you already have. Switch on a lamp, bring out a favorite blanket, clear a comfortable place to sit, or play music you enjoy. A free evening can be just as welcome as anything you could buy.
