THE CAR IS PACKED, IT'S TIME TO GO

The car is packed.  I mean really packed.  I thought we were just going to Florida for a few months.  Looking in the car, one might think we were moving there permanently.

It's amazing how much stuff you think you need for an extended stay; probably twice as much as you will actually use.  Regardless, we have sorted, sifted and discarded all we think we can and we still have the back of the Santa Fe packed.  There is the travel bag with clothes we will need on the trip to Florida, the larger bag with clothes we will need while in Florida, a small bag for toiletries and such, another bag for the medications that keep us alive and healthy and then clothes on hangers, my laptop computer, tools and on and on.  I can, however, still see out the rear window, so I guess that means there is room for more.  Egad!  That thought scares me.


We leave tomorrow morning.  But first, we must get up, get dressed and have a cup of coffee.  Joyce will put the finishing touches on neatening up the house (can't return to an un-neat house, you know) while I make sure the hot water tank is set to vacation, turn off the water softener, turn off the water supply to the ice maker and the water softener, and make sure all appliances are turned off and unplugged.  (They continue to draw power, you know, if they are plugged in.)  Must remember to make sure all windows are closed and locked and then set the temperature sensor so the neighbors will know if the furnace fails and the inside temperature drops too much.

Finally, we will pour one last cup of coffee and get in the car and leave ... and then spend the next 100 miles wondering what we forgot.  Oh well, we're off.  Sunshine here we come.