3 is a good number

With three weeks until departure, I figured it's time for an update.  But where do I start?

Ahh, yes, I have three days left at my law firm- a pretty incredible feeling after so many years of consistent work.  It's also a bit scary, knowing that my orderly life and steady income are about to be turned upside down.  But hey, we planned for it, right?  Right?  Despite some apprehension, my decision to leave and take on this crazy opportunity was met with a positive and sometimes even enthusiastic response at work.  I'm glad; after so many years I'd like to leave things on good terms.  And the hectic schedule just makes the time fly.  

As work finishes, I have some time to set things in order.  First of all, I'll take full advantage of my ending insurance, ie annual check ups, dentist and eye doctor appointments, and, most importantly, meds for the trip.  My Blue Cross Blue Shield is pretty much all encompassing, as I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it covers, in full, my eight months supply of doxycycline for malaria (let's see how I deal with the potential sun sensitivity) and Z-pac antibiotics for serious TD (that wonderful companion).  Donna from Dr MacGregor's travel medicine clinic in Morton Grove was especially knowledgeable.  We also decided to accept the typhoid fever shots in light of the occasional outbreaks.

After weeks of tedious research, we also decided to buy a travel insurance policy with the established Travel Guard.  With an option for every pocket, Travel Guard provides affordable coverage.  We focused on the immediate medical expenses and emergency evacuation details, the latter especially too important not to consider.  Worth every penny for the peace of mind.

We decided not to buy any visas in advance.  With a little planning, we can obtain them in some of the capital cities, sometimes for a third of the price, especially when using our Polish passports.  At this point, every dollar counts.

Other than that, it's the little things on the to-do list that can drive a person crazy.  We have to, in no particular order:

- download and organize movies, e-books and music
- early vote (!)
 - figure out the best way to access money - Charles Schwab offers some good options, with minimal fees abroad, as opposed to some other banks - check the little print!
- make copies of all docs, and preferably e-mail them to ourselves
- call credit / debit card companies to make sure they don't block cards when one is swiped in, say, Indonesia
- prepare a sneaky internal pocket for documentation
- prepare list of instructions for people handling financial matters at home
- teach mom, again, how to use Skype ;)
- move!  although I'm thankful that my brother is moving in, so the move involves only personal items
- figure out best online storage for the millions of Asia photographs
- buy some remaining items
- pack, of course!
- and say some goodbyes

And most likely tons more that I cannot recall right this minute.  Ok, I'm off to climb the stairs.  Trek prep doesn't happen by itself.