January
We are going to Europe!!!... in July. The trip of a lifetime!!!... six months from now. Ok, it's not that we aren't excited about it, but it's still too far out to maintain a high level of excitement for more than a few minutes. That will build as it gets closer. So for now we wait... and prepare.
Some things are already done. The airline tickets are purchased and plans are made for what we will do when we get there. We will see Luxembourg, Italy (Rome), France (Paris and Normandy), England (London), Belgium (Brussels), and Germany. 24 days total. It will be awesome!
One of the major things we need to do to get ready is get used to walking all day. There will a LOT of walking. Not the easiest task for me because 1) it's winter and very cold outside; 2) the treadmill is boring; 3) I spend a lot of the day sitting and inertia is a major obstacle; and 4) as an elite procrastinator, there is always tomorrow to get started. Should be fun!?
Another thing I need to do is dig out the suitcases (we are talking archaeological-type dig here) to see if we have anything big enough to hold everything I need to take or if I need to go suitcase shopping (bummer!). We each get one checked bag (50-pound max), one carry-on suitcase, and one personal bag - any more than that is $100/bag. We will have access to laundry facilities, so we don't need to take 24 days' worth of stuff (is that even possible?), and it will be summer, so the clothes will take up less space. And we won't need to pack many plug-in items because we won't be able to use them there, so that will save some space, too. [Side note: You never realize how many electronic devices you use in a day until you have to plan to be without them.]
February
So far, the procrastination part of the preparation is going very well...
March/April
We are down to less than 100 days until our trip. When the weather cooperates, I have been walking with a friend once or twice a week - about 2.5 miles each time. I think I have found the right pair of shoes for walking around all day. Goals for May: walk more (often)... and suitcases.
May/June
50 days...25... It's weeks now instead of months, and the days are going by - FAST! So much to do - not so much for the trip itself, but preparing to be gone for such a long period of time. Work stuff; house preparation; dealing with the mess I made when I finally dug out the suitcases... Excited to go, but the task list has somewhat of a dampening effect. Seems like all the preparation to go on a vacation makes you need the vacation all the more.
I ended up buying a suitcase. It is a HUGE thing! Fortunately it has 4 wheels so it moves quite easily. The goal is to load it up to as close to 50 lbs as I can without going over. Waiting to pack until other things get done.
