Trip Day minus 5

Each day comes and goes faster and faster. Friends have last minute requests and suggestions - all listened to intently, and processed at a later time. My dining room table is becoming full of 'stuff' (there's that word again) that needs sorting - definitely take, maybe take, possibly take, maybe not take - so far, no definitely not take.

Anita tells me that our small carry-on duffles will hold a lot more than we thought. Our first airline is the most restrictive regarding carry-on luggage - maximum 45" HWD and no more than 14 pounds. That knowledge really put a crimp into our original plans of traveling only with carry-on luggage, so we would not need to find baggage claim areas, and we would be certain everything would stay with us between airports and countries. Now we will check a small bag each and will spend part of this weekend dividing our 'stuff' between those two bags, and our carry-on duffles. Our theory is 'if one goes missing, neither of us will have only one outfit to wear for almost 6 weeks'. Seems reasonable to both of us.

Jim and I were out last evening with friends for my last Maryland crabs until late September. Jim's company has a crab-feast planned for the last Saturday in September, so I guess I'll get 'caught up' then. Jim is getting ready to work with the 'to-do' list I'm creating for him. He has grown dependent on me and my Palm (the Wizard) to maintain order in his non-work life. He has also promised to use the DVR to record the early season shows as our favorites return in September.

Three more days of work and then I'll not return to Howard County Library until September 22nd at the earliest. I don't know what my jet lag will be like after spending almost 6 weeks in a time zone that is either 6 or 7 hours ahead of Maryland. I don't usually need much time to recover from a long-distant trip - this time, I think, will be a new experience, and I may not make too much sense for several days after I return.

The questions in my mind now include - how much cash should I take, which credit cards, do I need my driver's license in case I need to drive, should I use traveler's checks or just my ATM card, how many clothes do I really need, and most important, what have I forgotten? If any of you readers, have answers to these questions, please make suggestions.

I appreciate the comments that have come so early. I really didn't think that would happen until we got to the exciting part of our journey.