Travel Anxiety

Maybe I'll feel more relaxed if I blog about my pre-travel anxiety.  The third load of laundry is waiting to go into the dryer.  I have a long list of what needs to be packed.  I have lists of things to do today and things to do tomorrow.

For today:  Send a birthday card and money to one grandson who has a January birthday.  It's ready to be mailed.

Do all possible laundry.  Three loads is a bit much for one day!

Check with Sunrise Resort about procedure for late check-in just in case our flight is delayed.  One year after hours it was a tense time trying to use the right code for opening the lock box.  The last four digits of our phone number?  Which phone number?  My cell or Jim's cell or the landline we first used when making our reservations?  Nothing was working! I hope they respond to my email.

Take care of some personal grooming advisable when heading for warmer temperatures!  Done!  

Use up food in refrigerator.  Bacon and eggs for supper is the plan. Apples and carrots are available but not much else.

Let our downstairs neighbor know we will be gone.  We don't have John's phone number or even his last name.  If the NYT is delivered in spite of my cancellation, he should enjoy it.  If there is a power outage in Princeton, Jeff and Susan have our key and will use our place--so he should be aware that could happen if he hears footsteps above his place. 

Stuff already done:   There are enough prescription pills for two more weeks.

 Jeff and Susan have two of our plants to water.

Jim saw Eboni in the apartment office and let her know we will be gone--to save our mail, to check on our apartment, to receive a box of books from Oxford University Press because Jim's RH Charles biography is almost ready.  

For tomorrow:  Distribute medicines for two weeks in my weekly container.

Water succulents--they should be OK for two weeks.

Open doors under sinks to prevent pipes freezings (suggestion from maintenance).  Set thermostat at 65. 

Return book to library because it was a new volume;  someone else is waiting for it.

Get more cash from the PNC ATM.

Pack one carryon suitcase each with one additional personal bag. Fortunately, there is a washer and dryer in our condo unit so we can pack lightly.  But it always is a process of decisions.  Last year we needed and bought extra tee shirts there.  The year before we needed and bought warmer tops.  Will there be room for a beach towel?  We're not supposed to use their bath towels.  What shoes will we need?  Coats or jackets or sweaters?  

If I don't get an email response from the resort re check-in, I will give them a call.

Pack masks and crackers for trip.

Our plan is to take an Uber to the Newark Airport Hilton Wednesday afternoon and spend the night there so we can get to the United terminal easily Thursday morning and not worry about the availabilty of Uber at that time.  I had a free Hilton night coming so this is a good time to use it.  We've stayed there a few times when our flight from Newark to South Bend was cancelled--one time memorably on Christmas Eve a few years ago when I was supposed to play the organ for our church service.  We can take a shuttle to the airport and get breakfast there. 

We will be very happy to be in Condo 512 looking out at the beautiful bay.  We can go to Tradewinds Tiki Lounge on the gulf and get our tropical drinks and a big bowl of chili nachos to share.  And then we can begin to enjoy ourselves!

I hope my next blog is from our condo with photos of the beautiful view.  Or maybe of our toasting our successful trip with my margarita and Jim's pina colada.

-------------January 11  The FAA canceled all flights this morning due to some problem with an emergency system.  We are so glad we were not flying today!  Hope it is all settled by tomorrow morning.