Checklist

We've got 10 days to go until we leave and my notebook is getting mighty full of checkboxes, some conquered and some staring me down, daring me to cross them off at high noon with their pistol drawn. So, with all these checkboxes defying my every move, I've decided to add yet another TO-DO to my list - blog about it.


When Matt and I were planning this trip, I never really thought about all the logistical stuff that would need to happen before we could break free from all our responsibilities. There's a GINORMOUS amount. Now, this is not to scare anyone, but it's simply to say I was a bit dumbfounded by things that crept up once I started cleaning house.


MAIN THINGS TO DO BEFORE LEAVING THE TARMAC:

• General Itinerary
• Budget??
• Weather / Time of Year
• Tourist Season?
• ATM availability
• Visa Requirements
• Foreign Embassies / Consolates - To obtain visas.
• Vaccinations / Anti-Malarial Pills
• Work / Volunteer Opportunities
• Book Departure Flight (one-way ticket out of the US)
• IDs - Up-to-date
• Passport - Make sure there's enough pages. If not, can always add more at any US embassy abroad.
• Passport Photos - Make sure you have enough for number of countries requiring visas.
• Driver's License
• Diving License (PADI?)
• Make copy for family, in case you lose any of these
• Credit / Debit Cards - Cancel, Keep, Enroll
• Find ones that reimburse you for transaction and exchange fees
• Capital One Venture Card (Credit Card)
• Charles Schwab (Debit / ATM)
• Travel Notification
• Go Paperless
• Change address on all of them to permanent address
• Check when they expire
• Permanent Address?
• Absentee Ballots
• Cancel or Forward Mail
• Taxes
• Pictures / Video / Electronics
• Camera
• Storage - Hard drive, external hard drive, memory cards, flash drive, online storage?
• Computer? iPod? Tablet? E-Reader? None?
• Backpack Items - Do you really need every shoe in your closet?
• Household Items - Sell, Keep, Donate
• Doctors Appointments
• Immunizations / Vaccinations Clinic (Including Anti-Malarial Pills)
• General - Yearly physical
• Dental - Teeth cleaning
• Dermatologist - Yearly check-up
• Gynocologist - Yearly check-up
• Optomologist - Order contact lenses for the year
• Make sure there aren't any outstanding claims
• Insurance - Decide if you want to sell or keep the house or car(s) and if you want insurance on anything. 
• Travel - Scan receipts for anything expensive you're taking
• Health - Any outstanding claims?
• Car - Would you rather sell or turn in your tag for your car?
• House / Apt
• House - Who is going to make the payments? What about renewing the lease?
• Insurance
• Mortgage
• HOA
• Tenants
• Contact Sheet for family and friends - How are they going to get ahold of you?