An Answer

We finally got an answer to part of the shipping question. Our allowence will cover 100 to 120 Kg, about 300lbs. That will take about 3 weeks to arrive, so I am planning for a July 1st ship date.

Next question is what to take. One thing we have heard from the area, take sunscreen because it is expensive in county. That may be the free market at work because if anything would be needed in a county that only gets 3 to 5 inches of rain a year, it would be protection from the sun.

The "List"

As promised, here are a few things to put on a list when you have to prepare to be gone for an extended period of time. This has been a good exercise and hopefully will shorten our list of last minute crisis.

1. Updated wills and a Power of Attorney so someone can handle problems if they arise.
2. Put all our important information in a file and leave copies with family members and our attorney.
3. Passports renewed.
   
4. Visa requirements met so we can get into the country.
5. Arranging with our local bank for money transfers, etc.
6. Setting up all the automatic payments needed because we will not get our local mail in a timely manner (if at all).
7. Getting someone to pickup and check our local mail that we will not get.
8. Suspending newspapers and magazines.
9. Making sure that Health Insurance coverages overlaps.
10. Getting phone and other utilities set to the minimum charge.
11. Setting up Internet phone service (Skype) and making it work before we leave. This will allow for free or very low cost phone calls.
12. Making sure that arrangements are made for property taxes to be paid.
13. Making sure that I am removed from jury duty, which I am serving on for the next year. How’s that for timing?
14. Getting all the outside things winterized.
15. Arranging for the yard work.
16. Renew licenses that will expire during our time away.
17. Make sure that banks and credit card companies know that we will be away.
18. Getting the shipping dates, timelines and weight allowances.
19. Deciding what to ship.
20. Make an inventory of each packed box contents.
21. Get an International Driver’s Permit from AAA.
22. We will need 30 passport type photos.
23. Get copies of prescriptions including eyeglasses.
24. Get a copy of application for absentee ballots.

That is our start at our “to do” list. I better not show it to my wife quite yet; it could be a full time job for the next few months.

Just like a Fl vacation

Have you ever thought about all the things you have to do to get things in shape to be gone. I have a new understanding of all the old people who pack off to Florida for 6 months. Somebody has to handle things here while you are there. We are getting everything together, but the list keeps growing. Later on I will give you a check list so if you ever have to be away, it will be a place to start.

I am sure that someone has posted that type of list somewhere on the web, I just have failed to find it, yet. We are working with our shipper on how much, in Kilos, we can ship as part of the $820, we are allotted. I don't yet have an answer on how it needs to be packed, or how much lead time (I think about 4/6 weeks) we need.That means that the packing and shipping has to be done some time about June 20th. As they say, we still have 2 months, what could go wrong.

We are sending the final paperwork, medical forms, etc, this week so we will see what the next steps are in the process.

Spring

We are starting to have spring weather in East Tennessee and with everything blooming, nice weather, etc., now would be the time for buyers remorse. Have we made the right decision, sure we have, time to start down the yellow brick road for our grand adventure. Our different view of the world and how we do things is starting to come out, one of us is making lists and getting organized, one of us is going with the flow. There is still plenty of time for getting everything done, why rush it. After 37 years together, some things never change, we will work this out and deal with the increased stress over time.

I sure do hate lists of jobs but time to go with the flow.