THE TRAVELER'S JOURNAL: June eighteenth, with tips for securing the homefront.

Summer's annual great vacation migration is drawing near. Whether you're flying overseas for a grand tour or heading to the shore, you'll find the following home protection checklist helpful.

Basic home security starts with making sure all doors and windows have stout locks that are firmly secured. Leave a key with a trusted neighbor, friend or relative, along with a copy of your itinerary, travel documents and where you can be reached in an emergency. Never hide a door key outside your home. Stop mail, newspaper and other home deliveries, or arrange to have them picked up by your guardian neighbor. Also ask that neighbor to check inside the house, water plants and change the positions of your curtains and blinds.

If your home has a security system, let the company know how long you'll be gone and who has a key. You can ask the police to check on your home. Another simple security tactic is to use inexpensive electric timers to turn strategic lights on and off each evening. A radio or TV on a timer can make it sound like someone's home. Never leave a message on a telephone answering machine that says you're away, only that you're unavailable to come to the phone.

If you'll be gone a few weeks, arrange to have the grass cut. If possible, keep a car parked in your driveway and have it moved from time to time. Some people even ask neighbors to put a bag of garbage in front of their house on pick-up days. Finally, if you own expensive jewelry or other items of really significant value, it might be prudent to store them in a bank safety deposit box while you're away.

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