Prince Edward Island

In July, we’re repeating a family trip to Prince Edward Island on the east coast of Canada. The boys will golf, and the girls will pick a new beach each day, and although they’ll claim to have enough Anne of Green Gables memorabilia, they’ll end up buying a book or two.

I wonder if we are unique in revisiting of the same vacation spot, but it turns out that there are psychological and sociological reasons why so many people choose familiarity over new adventures:

• Comfort and stress relief from decision making

• Deeper authentic connections through traditions

• Emotional regulation via restorative routines and nostalgia

• Practicality and ease of logistics

Watch horses come off the trailer when they arrive at familiar show grounds. A sniff of air, a hoof on the ground, and they move eagerly toward the barn to find the same comfortable stall they enjoyed last time. Maybe we all enjoy familiarity.

Ready for a Repeat