[CaliforniaMelanie]

What is wrong with me? This is the longest I've held out in probably the past 25 years without decorating outside.

And I am thinking of going through my garage and the pain and hassle of dragging everything out and I just can't seem to get into it.

I'm not "feeling" it, what on earth is wrong with me?

This is sort of rhetorical, I know nobody here can tell me what's actually wrong with me.

 

[CaliforniaMelanie]

You know what I really just feel like doing this year? Putting out a few decorations - a skeleton, a couple bats, a few pumpkins and maybe some cool cutouts in the window - and then just enjoying the fall season. We're going to Riley's Farm in Oak Glen next week to see their headless horseman event...I just feel like doing stuff like that.

 

[UnOrthodOx]

Take a down year. Never feel you need to force things. If it's not fun, don't do it.

 

[Screaming Demons]

The heat probably isn't helping. It just doesn't feel like Fall when it's still 110. We're supposed to start cooling down in the next couple of days.

 

[Spats]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with simply enjoying the season.

You shouldn't feel obligated to go whole hog every year.

If this Halloween is just a few a decorations, a jack o'lantern or two and some cider donuts with pumpkin-spice coffee, so be it.

And I agree, the temperature can make or break the mood. A cool spell can do wonders, so waiting until the heat dies off is a good idea.

 

[BarryJ]

We're going to Riley's Farm in Oak Glen next week to see their headless horseman event...I just feel like doing stuff like that.

How did I not know about this when it is in my backyard?

 

[CaliforniaMelanie]

How did I not know about this when it is in my backyard?

Come with us!! We're going Oct. 4. It's not in my backyard - probably a little over an hour - but my husband hunted it out for me.

 

[LaBruja]

Yes ..take a year and relax, look around and you might be surprised at things you see that may inspire you for something next year! No need to feel guilt. Just do simple and relax!

 

[Zing!]

I know how you feel - after throwing a huge Halloween party every year for the past ten years, we decided last year would really BE the last year. So relieved to not have to set it all up this year, but in the meantime, I've been working full-force on finally finishing my Halloween book that's been in my head since forever (see link in my sig below). I've been in full 'Halloween Mode' since July trying to get it done in time for Halloween - and now that it's here... I am totally burned out on Halloween! Go figure... To make matters worse, Halloween is finally on a Friday, and I feel I SHOULD do a huge garage haunt - but I just can't find the ambition to pull the trigger on it and get started. Just over a month away, so I have to decide either today or tomorrow.

P.S. The members here have offered good advice - there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking a year off to find your Halloween muse. Keep it simple - carve some jack-o-lanters, put up some cornstalks, enjoy Fall!

 

[psox16]

It's totally ok to follow your feelings! Do what sounds fun to you! If you force yourself to work too much, you'll only end up resenting Halloween, which is definitely NOT something you want to do.

This is definitely something I am going to be hyper-vigilant about going forward with my haunt. The minute it's not fun anymore, is the minute I'm scaling back. If I'm not having fun, what's the point?

 

[Madame Leota]

I suspect you are not alone. I keep thinking how different the boards seem this year, with so many long-time posters MIA, and even the ones who are here just don't seem as excited as in the past. Maybe it's just me, but I just get the feeling that this is kind of an off year for many of us. Normally, I have all my stuff out of the attic and several projects in the works, just waiting for Oct. 1st to start going up in the yard. Nope. I haven't pulled a thing down from the attic and I'm not really all that anxious to start. It will probably happen next weekend but if for some reason it doesn't, oh well. And inside decorating is going to be very minimal for sure. I just have no desire to be surrounded by all that stuff this year and even less desire to take it all down and pack it up after the season. So I'm going with my instincts and not forcing it. The others are right; if it's not what you want to do, what's the point? Who needs another obligation? Just do what's fun to you!

 

[ironmaiden]

Hubby and I are not into halloween much or anything else right now.

Our dear kitty died not even 8 weeks ago and nothing has felt right since. She wasn't old, it wasn't expected and we didn't get to enjoy her presence in our lives for long.

Her death wasn't even peaceful or painless.

I have been trying to distract myself by doing some indoor decorating however I can tell you it really doesn't work

 

[Tinaspaintedlady]

Sorry to hear about your kitty Iron Maiden, my senior kitty is nearing the end of her life too. I feel your pain.
Life happens like this though right, one Halloween my mom passed away tragically in a plane crash, that was the worst time of my life and I did not do a Halloween thing at all, another year I was inbetween two houses in two different states, the last thing on my mind at the time was Halloween.
So some years are hot others are not. No biggy. Do what you can and know that Halloween will always be there waiting for you.

 

[Spooky McWho]

Despite my excitement for this years party, my husband has been very blah and has suggested that we skip this year.Thursday I bought the Ghostly Apparitions DVD and showed it to my husband, telling him I would be playing it in the living room during the party that I have been struggling to get ready by myself. Yesterday I came home from a brief meeting at my children's school and my hubby and brother are building a mauseleum to house the "ghosts". Even if you aren't feeling enthused now, something might change your prospective and if not enjoy the season in a way that makes you happy!

 

[GobbyGruesome]

This is sort of rhetorical, I know nobody here can tell me what's actually wrong with me.

I can! I've been keeping a list! *Pulls big heavy binder out of desk drawer and plops it on the desk*




Yeah, pretty much what everyone else says. Nothing wrong with taking a down year. But...

a) it's still really early by the standards of the mentally stable (or so I'm told)
b) sometimes it helps to have a little bit of inspiration - some sort of catalyst to get things going. Could be a prop, an event or a really good latte.
c) On the flip side, psychobabblists always say that "action leads to action" meaning maybe once you get started you may feel more motivated.

But if none of that applies, you have full permission to step back and enjoy the season beyond the confines of your sidewalk this year. Don't forget to write though. I hear there's lots going on out there.

 

[BarryJ]

Come with us!! We're going Oct. 4. It's not in my backyard - probably a little over an hour - but my husband hunted it out for me.

Looks like 10/4 is sold out...

 

[GobbyGruesome]

I wanna go to a Headless Horseman event.

 

[ironmaiden]

So very sad to hear about your mom Tina. Sudden deaths, unexpected tragedies hit so very hard and rip you apart inside.
Please hug your kitty and enjoy EVERY single moment you have remaining with her

 

[Scatterbrains]

I think it all starts with the fact that half my help is either working or has other obligations on Halloween, so scaling down has been on the plate for a while. Throw in the fact that I am behind on builds and programming and it all seems a little overwhelming. The dilemma for me is whether or not to keep building or call it good and just decorate with what I have. If I keep building and programming the lightorama, my setup will be postponed until about the 20th..which isn't much time considering all the stuff I have to put our., but it'll take a lot of pressure off the future years since much of what I want to get done has been on the list for a while.

 

[DaveintheGrave]

If nothing else, it might help you to know you're not alone. I kept telling my wife that I wasn't going to do anything in the yard this year. I even thought about aerating and re-seeding the yard just so I'd have an excuse not to put anything out. Plus the fact that every Fall season I tell myself we will go to the mountains and see the Fall colors, but never end up doing that. (The mountains are only 2-3 hours away.) Also add the several new props I had planned to build in the past year that I never got around to. LOL Well, I may have ONE finished.
I think part of it has to do with the fact my only daughter left for college this September and she would always help me set up yard displays on Halloween day.
Plus the fact I'm not as young as I used to be. Oh well.....
But then I think of all the kids in the neighborhood and even the adults who look forward to seeing their favorite props again. And see what's new.
Even my son-who never said one word about all my props and decorations before- asked me "are you really not going to do Halloween this year?"
So, as October gets closer I'm slowly feeling motivated to get busy on the yard. There are many times where it feels like more work than fun, but the smiles and joy my decorations give the TOTs more than makes up for it.

So, Melanie, I would say if you feel like taking a break and doing other things this year--by all means DO IT. Halloween can be overwhelming for us haunters.
And I bet if you do take a break, next Halloween season you will be twice as excited about it.

That's my guess.