The time is just flying now and we have both gone through a range of emotions as the time draws ever closer. I think it is a fear of the unknown eg,. what will it be like, will we enjoy it, do we have enough money, what if we get stuck somewhere and run out of money, are we ever prepared enough. Maybe we think too much at least I do but I wonder if the experienced travelers out there just take it all in their stride. I think it probably comes down to being prepared but how prepared do you need to be without taking everything and the kitchen sink.
A few people have asked me what do you need to organise before you go surely there wouldn't be that much. Well you'd be surprised it all adds up really. We just started off deciding whether to rent our house through a real estate agent and store all our household goods, but when I started looking into storage there are so many options it is mind boggling. Then we would have to clear the whole house and probably hire a truck to take the stuff to the storage place and fill the container ourselves. It also concerned me who would be renting my house and what would they do to it, (I've never rented a property out before let alone my family home and to strangers). I would have been thinking about that all the time. In the end we decided to get our dog minder/housesitter (who we trust implicitly) to come in and put it to her would she be willing to stay for an extended period. Thank goodness she said yes and that was the dog issue taken care of as well. The dogs coming with us was good and bad. I love my dogs and I would have taken them but we intend on working while we are away and it concerned me that we might have to leave them in the van for long periods and besides being taboo with the caravan parks I couldn't do that to them. Our 2 whippets do tend to fret and feel the cold and the heat more than some other breeds too.Oh no, I've just read this and I sound like a anxiety freak!! I really do need a rest from my mind sometimes.
These above things were the biggest issues. As well as that there are some other things to consider:
- bills things we pay for, things they pay for eg. gas/elec, water, rates,
- insurances - car, house and contents, health insurance
- putting things on direct debit - mobile phones, rates, water
- cancel paper delivery, gym membership, union membership
- mail
- rent and how that would be paid
- renew drivers licence
- do any courses needed for jobs on the road
- print out resumes
- food, flea and worming treatment for dogs for 12 mthshttp://mixandkarrotsaussieadventure.blogspot.com.au/
It's nice to know our friends and family care about us and whether we might disappear off the face of the earth as they are madly organising farewell dinners, lunches, drinks etc. I've never felt so popular bring it on!! The waistline is suffering a bit but not to worry just got to exercise more.
