September 30, 2012
As we're getting ready for a three week trip, I'm just about finished with what I consider our pre-trip rituals.
We took care of the newspapers and mail, arranged yard care, dumped garbage, set timers, notified the neighbors and cleaned out the fridge.
I was also inclined, as I am before most trips, to consider a few household tasks that seemed to linger at the bottom of my to-do lists. For example, I had a couple of door thresholds long beaten by the weather that needed sanding, caulking and repainting. While I always intended to this job, I found the upcoming trip created some personal incentives to purchase sandpaper and caulk from the local hardware store. I completed the job last weekend - with enough time for a couple of paint coats. Another task that fit this category included dealing with ants around the house exterior so that they're not encouraged to enter the house during our absence.
I'm guessing that all these rituals add up to starting a trip with a certain peace of mind. Though the question is where to draw the line on what will get done before traveling. Moreover, as we start any trip there's generally a nagging suspicion that some task was undone (like was the iron unplugged or door locked) - often when we're half-way to the airport. So much for that peace of mind.
As we're getting ready for a three week trip, I'm just about finished with what I consider our pre-trip rituals.
We took care of the newspapers and mail, arranged yard care, dumped garbage, set timers, notified the neighbors and cleaned out the fridge.
I was also inclined, as I am before most trips, to consider a few household tasks that seemed to linger at the bottom of my to-do lists. For example, I had a couple of door thresholds long beaten by the weather that needed sanding, caulking and repainting. While I always intended to this job, I found the upcoming trip created some personal incentives to purchase sandpaper and caulk from the local hardware store. I completed the job last weekend - with enough time for a couple of paint coats. Another task that fit this category included dealing with ants around the house exterior so that they're not encouraged to enter the house during our absence.
I'm guessing that all these rituals add up to starting a trip with a certain peace of mind. Though the question is where to draw the line on what will get done before traveling. Moreover, as we start any trip there's generally a nagging suspicion that some task was undone (like was the iron unplugged or door locked) - often when we're half-way to the airport. So much for that peace of mind.
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