Thread: Anyone here ever scaled way down to "normal?"

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I am having a real hard time right now keeping my head above water. My job is taking up so much time, and 2 young boys also need a lot of attention. Since 2003, we have had Halloween in 4 different houses. We've been at 3 houses in the past 3 years and ... my friggin company is moving next year. I am just spent. I have barely posted here in a couple years due to all this.

Over the past 7 years, we went from just having spiderwebs and a couple tombstones in the yard to having huge parties and a full yard cemetery with 5+ pneumatic props among other things. Our garage floweth over. Our credit cards were stressed.

Did I mention there's also Christmas?

I am really on the verge of selling EVERYTHING except the basics to decorate simply. Maybe down the road when the kids are older, we'll get back into it. I kinda think I'd like to go trick or treating with them once instead of running ragged due to tripped breakers, empty foggers, etc etc.

Anyone ever actually scaled down for a while and gotten back into it when the kids are older?? I think I can enjoy HW with some basic window and inside decor and a really cool pneumatic prop that I can focus on.

Dont feel alone, I did that. I went all out when my boys were younger, and really beat myself up during Halloween. It got expensive, and yeah, right after they want a big Xmas too. For the last 4 years or so, I scaled way back, sold alot of stuff, And just did exactly what your talking about by simplifying. Now my boys are 20 and 16yrs, and I started getting back into it just for fun. It felt good to just be an observer for a few years and let the batteries recharge. A bit lighter on the wallet too. I also resisted buying things this year, but rather making props instead. Take a break, Halloween isnt going anywhere.

Yep. No children as the reason buy yes. This year I had more planned then hurt myself & that was all she wrote, I barely had anything out, I couldn't do the graveyard because of the high winds, but between my vampire in his coffin, Hallowindow & about 20 fake carved pumpkins, everyone was happy. For the last couple of years I haven't even decorated inside. It just got to be too overwhelming doing both inside & out & I figured I'm not even home most of the day to enjoy it so I cut waaaaaay back on indoor stuff too. Just a pumpkin or 2, some candles & a few other things the last few years when I used to have Halloween on almost every surface in the living room, kitchen & bathroom.

I go through spells (no pun intended) with it. Some years I have a graveyard, some years I don't. Some years, depending on the weather, I go my version of all out, some years I just don't. I had several years where I was in a basement apt. & did nothing.

There's nothing wrong with scaling back for any reason from money to moving to burnout to kids. Enjoy ToTing w/the kids for a few years, then when they're older you can set up small & work your way back up if you feel like it. Maybe eventually the kids will help & be a part of it.

I see nothing wrong w/taking a break when you get burned out. Like chop shop said, Halloween will be there when you're ready.

What is this normal of which you speak?

We've gone from a very simple yard display (I'm talking cheap wooden tombstones and a couple stuffed dummies to an elaborate walkthrough that encompasses our front yard, driveway, back patio, garage, and portions of our back yard. We have no where else to take it so after a few years of this we've decided to scale back. We're eliminating the garage and back yard portion of it, and focusing our energies on the graveyard display and patio scene. It has become a major undertaking every year and a lot of work, for such a short return. As I get older, I'm looking to simplify and declutter and this was a logical place to start.. My kids are past TOT years, I have all the props I need to keep things fresh (although I'll still make/buy something evetry now and then, and I want to simplify and enjoy the Holiday instead of spending three days setting up and another week tearing down and packing it all away. I know that the few days after Halloween each year I'm beat! So yes! take somne time and regroup. Scale back to a simpler more manageable display. Sometimes we see so many awesome things on these forums, we tend to get caught up in it and want more/bigger/better. Truth is, even a simple well crafted display is more than most people would ever do for Halloween.

The hubs and I don't have kids, and we've talked about taking the year off sometimes or at most doing a JOL and just handing out candy... we did take off Halloween one year around 4-5 years ago and went on vacation instead. Totally rocked (New Orleans at Halloween is pretty crazy)

I know we are definitely going through out props this year and probably selling off some of the stuff we haven't used in years. I won't get rid of the really cool stuff or some of the homebuilt stuff that we spent lots of time on, but the store-bought stuff that isn't really "us" anymore is going away.

I hate the idea of disappointing the neighborhood (and we don't do anything as big as most everyone on here - just a graveyard display with some interesting props - but no walkthru or the like) but I definitely feel like just being normal sometimes.

Honestly, if you feel like scaling back and/or taking a few years off and just doing something small, do it. You sometimes have to take a few steps back and just try to take a little rest now and then... makes you that much more energized and excited to jump back in when you're ready.

I totally understand! We have doing a pretty elaborate display these past couple years, and this year we had the greatest turn out EVER! I could not be happier...but admittedly I am already stressed out about what we are going to do next year!! How will it be better, how will be change it to be new and interesting? And how much work it will be. It is just DH and I doing it all!! I get help from my mom and aunt for party preparations, but the rest is all on the two of us. What doesnt help is that my stuff is still not put away yet!! Tomorrow I have to finish packing up the indoor decor (its taken me twice as long bc everything is going in tubs and being labeled...to make it easier next year, I hope!) But the garage is hopeless The plan WAS to move all the props some(newly inherited this year) into our unfinished basement from the garage.....well, after about 10 trips in and out, with not even making a DENT in the pile, we got frustrated and stopped. So now we will not be parking in our garage this winer On top of that, our basement is full of animatronics that need to be boxed up, and other mis decor. I feel like I just want to get it put away and not look at for awhile...I definitely need a break....but when your garage and basement is packed full of it....its hard to get away from it! Its a lot of work and a commitment...so if you need to take a break in order to enjoy it....I say go for it!

Thanks for the replies. I've already started posting stuff for sale, so far I actually have two haunted houses talking to me about props. I am on the verge of having the biggest yard sale we've ever had. I'm so tired of the garage being full of stuff. I'm tired of moving so much stuff. I'm...just...tired.

My wife has over a room full of scrapbooking stuff and has bought into the idea of going digital, but I can't get her to commit to going thru her stuff. Also have the issue of her emotional attachment to stuff we NEVER use. It's going to be a challenge, but will be oh so rewarding.

I have moved close to Christmas a couple of times through the years and there is nothing so unappealing as thinking about UNBOXING a ton of stuff for holiday decorating. All I wanted to do after moving into a new place is leave everything in a box. I wanted to forget about the boxes entirely. So on that front I understand and feel your pain. I also went the better part of six years without putting out so much as a pumpkin on halloween, for a bunch of reasons. I also went almost five years without so much as purchasing a dvd for myself so I could collapse debt. Sold a bunch of stuff too. Three years ago things changed- denying myself purchases, selling stuff, cleaning out crap I was dragging around with me my whole life paid off. And, I slowly got back into halloween, bigger and bigger each year. I quit smoking four months ago and up'd my bank account to the tune of 200 extra bucks per month. Nice extra money for halloween instead of certain death. Point being, life is fluid. Things change all the time. Enjoy a modest setup. It's entirely likely along the way that the time will be right once again to do a more elaberate display. If you're employed, you have a wonderful family, a place to sleep at night- these are the things that matter. Everything else falls into place along the way. Best wishes to you.

Dan

"Regular" people have no idea what we Haunters go through. Getting back to "Normal"? Absolutely, but it will always be in your blood.