Counting down

Only three months left. I was right in that time is racing by. I am both sad about leaving and excited about our next adventure. We are taking three weeks of vacation in Oregon and Maryland before starting Chinese training, and we're all really looking forward to that (we'll do home leave before leaving for China). And then we hunker down for 9 mos of language- right now I am nervous and excited at the same time about that.

I haven't found the motivation to get serious about packout. I think it's time, but for some reason, my heart isn't in organizing right now. Maybe because it's such a big task? We have stuff everywhere and I have cleaned out drawers before, only to have them fill up with junk again, so I guess I'm trying to wait until the last minute. Not the brightest strategy.

It is also totally overwhelming to think about what to bring in suitcases, UAB (unaccompanied air baggage, arrives more quickly) to VA, and HHE (household effects, takes longer to arrive). We have to keep in mind that anything we want UAB to China has to go in UAB to VA. So even though I don't need linens or much kitchen stuff in VA, I have to send them so that they can go in the quicker shipment to China. I've heard rumors that our slower shipment might take 6 mos to be delivered once we arrive in country, so I'm trying to think of everything we'd like to have early on.

I used to thrive on this kind of organizing. Right now, I'm just tired. I wonder why? Work is pretty grueling; I usually work 7am to 6pm every day and I'm pretty exhausted when I get home. We've had some awesome visitors lately (more posts to follow!) so we haven't been home much. Anyway, it needs to get done and I really don't want to do it at the very last minute!

Everyone is asking me about a bucket list. I really think we've hit everywhere I wanted to go. I have only two goals right now: spend more time in the Colonial Zone and visit the Mercado Modelo. D never liked the Colonial Zone, so we didn't spend a lot of time there, but I just love it and want to explore it some more. I'm thinking about taking myself on a walking tour there.

So, yea. Three months. Flying by.