My pre-trip to-do list

When the decision is made to embark on an adventure of this magnitude it hits you: there is so much to get done before I leave.  Some of it is fun; flipping through guide books, figuring out the things you'll see in each place, setting up times to meet up with friends around the world and planning a going away party with the friends you're leaving behind.  Some of it is not so fun, but completely necessary.  Leading up to the trip I spent a good deal of time reading books and blogs about making preparations for leaving my life here for 8 months.  Where to put my stuff?  What to do with my cats?  On one hand it can be very satisfying to sort through your life in this way, getting rid of everything you don't absolutely need, and on the other it can be quite stressful.  We all spend so much time and energy acquiring things throughout our lives that the idea of getting rid of most of it can be a bit daunting.  Below is my list pre-trip to-do's (in no particular order):

• talk to family about leaving
• apply for Brazilian and Australian visas (all visa needs can be checked here on the government travel site)
• check on vaccinations needed for countries on itinerary (those can be checked here, at the CDC)
• add pages to passport
• get several copies of passport photos
• get teeth cleaned and checked
• physician appt - general physical
• gynecologist appt
• get new glasses and enough contacts for a year
• put in notice and write resignation letter for work
• clean up and sod over garden
• sell car
• put furniture on craigslist
• get travel insurance
• get plane tickets (see steph's post from 06/16/11)
• bring cats in for annual check-ups
• contact friends abroad about staying with them
• jail break phone and put att contract on hold
• launch website and figure out how to maintain while abroad
• buy travel clothes and camping equipment
• print off all needed documents
• make copies of docs for roommates
• get international driver's permit
• open checking account that doesn't charge international fees (I opened a Charles Schwab Checking Account, they refund all atm fees, both in the US and internationally.  The hitch is, you have to have a Schwab investment account attached to the checking account.)
• update living will
• get in shape (eh)
• make sure all payments are set up to happen automatically
• plan going away party

This list is by no means complete, and it seems like new things pop up everyday.  For example, it doesn't include, 'file police report for the hit and run that happened on my parked car two nights ago' because hopefully most people won't have to deal with that happening to them.  Because it's annoying.  

To date, I can cross off about half of the items on this list.  Which, with less than a month left before I leave means I had better get back to work.

-EC

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