So I’ve been really trying to avoid doing one of these since I feel a bit scatterbrained about preparing for our upcoming trip. I figure some people would like to know how we’re getting along with our “planning”. Incoming travel preparation status of our upcoming trip:
Shaun and I are still getting rid of the major things that are just taking up space right now. To be honest, we don’t know if we want to travel for the rest of our lives. Hell, I can barely decide on what to order at any restaurant. This is our first extended travel experience. We’re not getting rid of everything we own. If we make the choice to make it a permanent fixture in our life, we’ll come home and then deal with wrapping up the rest of the loose ends. Until then, we’re keeping our bed, desks, computers, and a few other basic things should we want to come home.
More power to all of you guys who have the balls to get up and sell everything, but for right now, we’re just getting our feet wet.
We have currently listed a few things but are still waiting on answers from Craigslist.
*Snap On tool box from when Shaun was a mechanic: $3000
*Tama Imperialstar drum set (mine): $450
*Black standup bass with red nylon strings (Shaun’s): $600
*Washer/dryer combo: $150
*Nikon D80 (body only): $300
I really didn’t want to get rid of my drum set but to be honest, we’re not going to be living in a house any time soon and I highly doubt my apartment neighbors will like me jamming until all hours of the night.
Our dog has a home with my dad and his two other dogs. We are currently still working on finding our two ferrets, Jinx and Delilah, a home where they will be loved and taken care of.
Our vaccinations have been completed! I would place the final cash amount but I find it rather embarrassing. Why can’t it be cheaper (we’ll leave that to a political discussion another time…)?
Our backpacks have been purchased. I got a 40L green Dueter backpack that fits like a glove and Shaun got a 50L black Osprey. Please note that I will not go into detail about how Shaun was so skinny the woman had him try on youth backpacks due to not being able to fully tighten the waist strap on most backpacks. I told him I would not embarrass him by telling everyone that he wouldn’t have been able to fit into my backpack if he tried.
I think all we need now are a few basic backpacking supplies such as packing cubes, our travel towels, some non-jeans pants, and some Ex-Officio underoos.
My OBGYN appointment is on the 24th so I’ll keep everyone updated on the choice of birth control I will be participating in before our big trip. I’m kind of curious to report how everything goes in the… nether region?
T-MINUS: Oh crap I forgot we don’t have a leave date.
We’ll let you know as soon as we know. We’re doing something absolutely crazy. We’re leaving 2 weeks after Shaun puts in his 2 weeks… and we don’t know when that will be. Maybe sometime in March? Maybe some time in April? SUSPENSE!
================================================================
This article was made possible by the generosity of Responsible Travel.com. Are you looking for adventure holidays? They provide information on everything from Turkey holidays to honeymoons!
================================================================
“My OBGYN appointment is on the 24th so I’ll keep everyone updated on the choice of birth control I will be participating in before our big trip. I’m kind of curious to report how everything goes in the… nether region?”
Oh Lord. You are too funny!!
Wow, I am SUPER impressed at the small size of your backpacks! Pete and I got 70L and 60L respectively. I probably could have gone a little smaller (mine is never really full), but people still comment on how small and light mine is compared to others.
Good on ya!
Mirena IUD. Changes lives while travelling.
Glad you’re keeping us all informed about your nether region. Hey, that could be a weekly feature “The Nether Region Report” 😉
I bought a 55L Gregory pack a month ago. When I went to REI to pick it out, the first thing they tried to do was sell me a 90L pack… hell no.
Oooh I love how spontaneous your trip feels 🙂 Maybe Shaun will surprise you one day and say “hey, I quit!” ?
Lay off the skinny dudes – my waist strap touches in the middle I had to cut off most of the straps as they were hanging so much!
Wow, spontaneity FTW! Well, hopefully for the win. 😉
And I’m totes interested to see what BC option you go with as well. Okay, that sounds weird – interested cuz I’m looking at options as well, not cuz I wanna know what BC you use, lol.
I can’t believe you still don’t know exactly (or even what month) you’re leaving! But the semi-spontaneity makes it that much more exciting. The backpack issue has been on my mind lately. I already own a 50L and a 30L and I refuse to spend more money on a 40L even though I think that would be ideal. I have a strict carry-on only policy for myself, and even though I have taken the 50L as a carry-on on a dozen flights, I’ve run into a few close calls with ticket agents making me weigh it and almost not being able to carry it on. So I’m thinking I might have to be bold and try to make it work with the 30L. Still deciding…
@MOTL: 😀
@Dalene: I think because we’re carrying my camera gear I had to make up for the weight somewhere else. I am a super low maintenance girl so 3 shirts and some shorts/pants should do me well. I have God awful knees so I need to make sure they can carry our things! 😀
@Allison: Definitely on my list of possibilities. I think out of everything I would like to do that the most.
@Nick: I totally considering naming my post that. I felt really weird getting such a small pack due to the lack of choices that were on the wall. Multiple stores were just lacking.
@Brooke: It kills me how spontaneous it is! I’m trying to play it cool but the closer we get to our maybe/kinda/sorta/possible leave date that we haven’t really set I get more nervous.
Oh yeah!!! I am so excited for you!!!! This is awesome. Great idea to leave some things at home too. It’s going to be great Erica. I’m super packed for you both. I think getting on the road is so much of the journey itself!
@Poi: I obviously like the skinny guys! I’m also terribly lucky that Shaun is good natured and lets me razz him on a public forum.. ♥
@Christy: The spontaneity is killing me! As for the birth control – I gotcha. No worries. 😛
@Ali: It has been quite stressful. I think that if we knew I would be able to calm down a bit but the uncertainty kills me.
If you do the 30L, you’ll totally be beating me on the low maintenance girl thing! More power to you! I haven’t done a packing check yet so I’m not sure how cramped (if they will be) things are going to be. If you think you can do 30L, rock it lady!
@Bethany: If we decide we want it to be a more permanent thing we’ll just come home and sell everything else that we have. I like having a safety net.
You must be excited to be going so soon
What??????? You don’t have a date! Erica you need to have a date!
@Zablon: Super stoked!
@Ayngelina: It is more of a “when x happens, then y happens” statement. “X” will happen some time in March but we can’t leave or put in Shaun’s 2 weeks until then.
I’m totally with you about not getting rid of EVERYTHING. I’m pretty sure I’m not traveling the rest of my life, and my bed is pretty fucking awesome. I’m still trying to figure out what I’m going to do with my puppy, he’s like my child. I can’t just leave him with anyone :(.
Let me know what happens with the OBGYN. Are you going to ask about an IUD?
@Sheryll: The bed is the biggest thing! I LOVE my bed! It was the first piece of furniture we bought that wasn’t a hand me down after college. My ferrets may be leaving my house tonight and I’m already crying. I’m going to miss my little furballs.
Just found your blog, cool beans. Me and the girlfriend picked a concert in Netherlands she wants to attend as our arbitrary start off date, otherwise we would have never decided.
There still some items waiting to be sold. Glad your dog has a home now. I hope you find home for your other pet soon 😉
@Nestor: Sounds like a good enough reason to head out to me!
@Sarah: Home for the ferrets have been found and they have been relocated as of today. Not sure what we’re going to do about the items. I think the economy is still a bit sluggish for people to spent money on our stuff.
i hear you on the stress of the moving target! i obviously have to keep flexible because of the split and the uncertainty around how the whole house thing will work out and that makes it so much tougher! i say good for you for not putting more stress on yourselves than is necessary but just holding onto your stuff til you know what’s what. i’ve stored my stuff the couple of times i’ve left on extended trips and was glad i did. it’s only now that i’m ready to give it up. and funny…i just sold my drums! 😉
@Lorna: Keep me updated on the house thing – I’m kinda curious! I figure that if we want to continue traveling, we can just come home and sell the rest of our stuff. No harm. No foul. Right? And seriously lady. Stop being my doppelganger on lifestyle. It is creeping me out. ♥
Argh, so much to do! Why can’t everything just be done by fairies while we sleep?
@Rebecca: If that happened, my fairy godmother knows me well.