So.. Beth Ann and I decided to extend Operation Wanderlust for two more months. We had been talking about it seriously since mid-December. Two weeks ago in Sao Paulo we finally pulled the trigger and bought our flights. Since our original return flight was on frequent flyer miles from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, [...]
Posts under ‘OW Planning’
The Challenge
Packing our bags has been challenging. I intentionally purchased a smaller bag but now I am questioning this decision.
In the photo, you can see what I am bringing:
Two medium, water proof compression sacks filled with clothes
Sleeping bag
Pair of flip flops
Extra backpack for hiking
Tripod
Toiletry kit
Duffel bag to leave extra gear in when we go on [...]
38 lbs
Yesterday (Thursday) I sorted, weighed, and packed the clothes and other items on my list. The result was a 38 lb pack that felt pretty heavy. After a few laps around the NH condo I concluded that I might need to lighten my load before we depart.
Boxes
Last week, after three enjoyable years in DC, we packed up our worldly possessions and moved out of our apartment. We transported our boxes – 89 of them – via a rented Penske truck from DC to Massachusetts. At that point we stuffed our 89 boxes into a 5′ x 10′ x 12′ [...]
I Heart Craigslist
I feel sooo much better! It’s amazing how things can change in two days. I was certain we would run into issues since all of the furniture needed to be moved out on a weekday and during bankers’ hours. Things worked out so well we decided to list even more stuff to see what else [...]
One Bookcase Sold!
I’m feeling slightly overwhelmed. Work has gone into overdrive. We usually do not have many projects during the summer but this year is an anomaly. Planning for the trip, coordinating a move, and having a packed work schedule is a bit difficult to manage all at once.
In two weeks, the truck will be packed and [...]
Sigh of Relief
The possible outcomes were pretty clear for Marc’s job: either his employer would approve a leave of absence and transfer, or not. So, today it felt like we won the lotto when Marc was approved for a leave of absence. The transfer will be a bit trickier and can’t be brokered until we get back. [...]
The Countdown Begins
We hit a milestone yesterday – only 2 months left before we leave the States. We couldn’t help but freak out a bit when pondering everything that needs to get done. I wonder what will happen at one month to go…
On a different note, Marc ran into a guy teaching Spanish at the neighborhood coffee [...]
We Are Not Alone Part II
Every once in awhile I search for more travel blogs. I do this mainly for inspiration, ideas, tips on the places we will go, and what to pack. Today I came across the blog Six in the World. This family of six (ages 4-38) traveled the globe for 11 months. Can you imagine? What a [...]
Estamos Aprendiendo Espanol
Learning a new language is frustrating. It is slow. It is hard. And, this is the third time I started the process (although previous attempts were half-hearted). I think it helps that Marc and I are learning the language together, and are doing our best to keep each other motivated. We have no illusions of becoming fluent, we just want [...]