"looking through the blinds."

I like that visualization! ;) Yes, we need to stay on our toes.

They ask "What will be the sign of your return."

My understanding of that chapter, after years of consideration, differs from most commentators. Most I have read take the entire laundry list of things Jesus says there as "signs of his near return."

In contrast, I take the list as "all this stuff will happen and be happening, don't let it distract you."

In other words, I think Jesus is saying this:

"You want to know the sign of my return? The sign of my return is my return, which will be unmistakable and un-forgeable."