The ATW begins tomorrow with an early morning flight to Seattle. But there is work to be done today, to prepare for the flight and the subsequent 22-night cruise. And to ready Marlene’s house for nearly 10 weeks of vacancy.
Things to be done today:
- Check in for the flight and print the boarding passes.
- Print the boarding passes for the cruise (we checked in a week ago).
- Make arrangements with a neighbor to get us to the airport.
- Pack our suitcases.
- Mow the lawn (arrangements have been made to have someone mow the lawn twice while we are away).
- Clean out the refrigerator.
- Unplug the electric water heater and turn off the washer water feeds.
- Arrange with a neighbor to periodically check the house and start Marlene’s car (my son will start mine).
Packing is a challenge. We will be away for nearly 10 weeks but can take only one 50-pound suitcase each (plus a backpack and a hand-carry item). We get free laundry aboard the ships, so that solves the laundry problem for half the trip. We will have to find laundromats occasionally while in Europe. Keeping within the 50-pound limit is not a problem for me but it will be a challenge for Marlene. She will be limited to 3 pairs of shoes – 2 pairs in the suitcase and one worn on the flight. Going 70 days with just 3 pairs of shoes (at least until we reach Europe – she could buy more there) will be difficult. And picking the right dresses… also tough.
It is good to be a guy.
All of these tasks are things we would do for shorter trips, except for the mowing arrangements and cleaning out the refrigerator. It is really important this time to remove all perishable items. Anything we leave will be rotten/moldy/stinky when we return. Can’t let that happen.
Anyway, the ATW begins in earnest around 4am tomorrow when we get up.