The Final Week

So forgive us for not posting at our regularly scheduled time, but things have gotten a little crazy here this past week, our final in the States. In the past week, we have:

• Spent countless hours on the phone with Continental getting our flights arranged. We now have an itinerary that we think looks good, and we’re simply waiting for them to charge us for the taxes and fees (which they better do soon, since we leave on Monday!)
• Booked spots on an Inca Trail hike in January
• Purchased insurance for the trip and changed all our at-home insurance to policies better suited to our needs
• Decided what credit cards/ATM cards we’re taking with and notified all the necessary institutions of our travel plans
• Purchased a few last minute items
• Signed papers granting financial power of attorney to Jeff’s mom
• Voted for the next president of the United States
• Got our computer set up and ready to go
• Had my awesome mother sew secret pockets in all our pants and add velcro closures to all our outside pockets
• Gone through all the mail that managed to accumulate in just one month
• Sorted through all our stuff, debated over the merits of many items, and finally just packed the bags
• Said goodbye to our family and friends in Louisville (sniff)
• Flew across the U.S. to Seattle

I’m sure I’m leaving out some things, but suffice it to say, we’ve been busy. It seems that no matter how well you plan, there is a lot to be done in the last minutes. And I have to say that it just might be easier to get up and go from your place of residence rather than A) pack and move all your stuff 600 miles across the country 1.5 months before your departure date, B) spend a month in a foreign country, C) return to original domicile to stay in a borrowed apartment, gather your last belongings, and then repeat 600 mile drive, and D) spend 5 days in one U.S. locale, then fly across the country and spend another 4 days in another U.S. locale before finally, finally, finally departing. But hey easy just isn’t our game.

I’d write more but I have to run. There are still things to be done! Check back on Sunday for our last post from U.S. soil, and then get ready, because the good stuff will be coming soon. I’m certain of it.