Three days until my flight Thursday (and one day until my flight to SFO, as I'm staying with my uncle and his family for a couple of days). This is nerve-wracking, partially because I haven't fully packed, but also because everyone keeps telling me it'll be an adventure and NZ is a country on their bucket list and 'man I wish I could go!'
Guys, your enthusiasm is nothing short of amazing. ♥
I'm thrilled that you're happy for me, because I need to bounce off your energy instead of googling American ex-pat blogs and wondering if I should pack a jar of peanut butter because I may never see it again. (These are real things running in the background of my brain at 3 AM. My brain is a terrifying place at 3 AM, for it not only jumbles up my real life but also the fictional worlds I like to watch on TV or read in novels.
As Ted Mosby once famously said, "Nothing good ever happens after 2 AM." He was kinda right: I'm not leaving the house, but my packing list is getting kind of unwieldy after a few hours.)
For instance, do I really need two suitcases? It'll be cheaper, my brain insists as I toss in PG Tips! It'll be good to stuff it up with food, 'cause then you'll have more room to lug stuff back with you!! (Dear brain: Auckland is an urban jungle. I'm pretty sure they'll sell teabags in a country where Elizabeth II is the head of state.) I've even gone so far as to make an inventory out of every item I've packed and checking off each item, just to ensure that I haven't forgotten anything.
See, I'm famously known for forgetting SOMETHING every vacation, whether it's small like my eyeshadow or large like, say, my laptop charger. While I'm certain I won't forget my chargers - especially not for my phone and computer - I suspect the smaller items won't be on my radar, and thus I want to be super on the ball about these things.
Planning, I've come to realize, isn't my strongest suit. But I'll be darned if I didn't try my very best.
