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What nuance exactly does bring saying 楽しみに{たのしみに}しとく instead of the more usual
楽しみにしています ? In this context, would the use of しとく(しておく) mean "I rejoice myself
_in advance_ about it" ?

Context : From a friend, referencing a diner we would have together in the
evening of the same day.
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2016-01-21T10:44:17.443
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2016-01-22T17:40:42.910
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translation nuances subsidiary-verbs
Nuance of 楽しみにしとくね?
My dictionary say "しておく" means "ある目的のためにあらかじめある行為を行なうこと(an action for a
purpose in advance). For example, 今日、明日のテストのために英語の勉強をしておく( I study English
today for tomorrow exam.)

I think 楽しみにしておく is a little more friendly and companionable saying than
楽しみにしている but they are almost same meaning.
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2016-01-21T15:15:54.007
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This is no easy question without knowing the exact context or situation in
which to use either of the two expressions.

So, I will begin with the part of your question that I could answer with
complete confidence. No, 「楽しみにしとく」 does **_not_** mean " **I enjoy myself in
advance about it.** " regardless of the context or situation.

Both 「楽しみにして **いる** 」 and 「 楽しみにして **おく** 」 are used to talk about possible
**_future_** events, period.

> Is it happening to you directly?

May the possible fun/happy event happen to you directly or to another person
in your social circle? If the latter is the case, how close are you (the
speaker) to that person?

「楽しみにして **いる** 」 is likely be the phrase choice for you if you are that person
himself or someone very close to that person. The possible fun/happy event
will influence your life more than it will others. 「して **おく** 」 would be a
highly unnatural choice in this case.

「楽しみにして **おく** 」 might well be the phrase choice if you are not very close to
that lucky-person-to-be. Of course, you might still choose to use 「して **いる** 」
to show your interest more.

> When might the fun/happy event occur? (How far in the future?)

Regardless of the amount of direct influence of the possible event, you might
actually choose to say 「楽しみにして **おきます** 」 if the event will not occur anytime
soon in the first place.

It takes more energy to be 「楽しみに **している** 」 than to be 「楽しみに **しておく** 」
because the former is something one does more actively than the latter. 「楽しみに
**しておく** 」 **_could even mean or imply "to forget about it now and start
thinking about it when the day approaches_** ".

In conclusion, the phrase choice is influenced by multiple factors. There is
no absolute rule as to which to choose when. This is why I said it was no easy
question at the beginning. You do not want to sound either unusually
interested or overly indifferent.

When in doubt, you will always have a safe alternative of just saying
「楽しみですね！」 with a smile.
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2016-01-21T15:25:49.470
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answer
The word おく in しておく works to add a nuance "for a period of time."

> 楽しみにしています。
>
> 楽しみにしてます。
>
> 楽しみにしてる。
>
> 楽しみです。
>
> 楽しみ。

These five expressions all mean "I'm excited about it", "I can't wait" or
something like that. These are expressing the present feeling.

The following expressions fundamentally mean the same feeling as those above,
but also express the nuance "for a period of time."

> 楽しみにしておきます。
>
> 楽しみにしておく。
>
> 楽しみにしときます。
>
> 楽しみにしとく。
>
> 楽しみにしとくね。

These five expressions all mean "I'm excited about it, and will be excited
about it for a period of time (maybe, until it happens.)" or something like
that.

The more accurate nuance of this kind of おく is something like "let it be for a
period of time". So, if someone says 「楽しみにしとくね。」, it means that s/he keeps the
feeling 楽しみ and won't change the 楽しみ feeling for a period of time.

These expressions are sincerely used by people in many cases. But sometimes,
people use one of these expressions just in order to be polite, or to put
pressure on someone. I guess your friend said that sincerely.
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