Lists, Lists, Lists

Posted on 22. Aug, 2010 by Steph in Trip Planning

I’m leaving the United States indefinitely exactly one month from today. I’ve given my notice at work and told everyone I know, so there’s no going back now. Everyone keeps asking me how excited I am and the truth is- right now not so excited. Not even nervous. Right now all I can feel is busy!

I have SO much to get done. Luckily I have a great passion for making to-do lists. I made one every morning at work and one every night when I sit down to blog. My desk is littered with half- finished to-do lists right now.

I wish! (Creative Commons License photo credit: mandiberg)

Making to-do lists is fun- actually checking a thing off of them is another story. Right now it’s pretty ridiculous as I scramble to make sense of about 5 different to-do lists. In addition to these many things I must somehow wrap up my employment, kiss everyone I love goodbye and get my entire life in tidy order before I hop on this plane to Tokyo.

Here are some of the lists I’m currently working furiously to tick things off of:

The Shopping List

Sadly most of the things I need to do involve me opening my wallet. Although I already have a backpack and most of the basic equipment, it seems like there is so much I still need.

Excerpt:

Buy and break-in walking shoes

Buy ibuprofen, Tums and all other necessary first-aid kit elements.

Stockpile passport sized photos

The Planning List

This list also seems to involve shelling out a lot of money. Although I’m only making concrete plans up until January, there are a lot of logistics to be figured out an pinned down.

Excerpt:

Apply for Chinese visa

Reserve hostels for first nights in Tokyo and in Shanghai

Buy plane tickets for Australia

The Tech List

I love you guys to pieces but running a blog from the road is sure going to add some complications to my life.

Excerpts:

Figure out how to use my damn netbook

Organize external and online storage

Download awesome travel apps for my new ipod touch (recommendations?)

The OMFG Gotta Get This Stuff Done List:

This is the most stressful of the bunch- things that absolutely must be accomplished before I can leave or there are going to be some major problems.

Excerpt:

Sell my Car (Anyone in the DC area interested in a 2006 Jetta?)

Set up new bank account

Buy Travel Insurance

The “It Sure Would Be Nice” List:

Unfortunately, this list suffers at the expense of the louder, more pressing one. There are about a million people I’d like to spend some time with before I go, and a million smaller things I’d like to get done (like maybe take some stick-shift refresher lessons). How much of this will actually be accomplished remains to be seen…

So doing all of these things, plus trying to get ahead on this blog, plus getting rid of a bunch of my belongings, yeah, I guess I’m a bit stressed out.

In the end though, I’m leaving the country September 22, whether I get everything accomplished or not. This is a stressful thought, but also a comforting one. Nothing can stop me now!

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42 Responses to “Lists, Lists, Lists”

Drew Meyers
22. Aug, 2010
Sounds like you’ve got a busy month ahead — getting excited for your adventure I’m sure!!
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- Steph
  22. Aug, 2010
  The busier you are the less nervous you feel….
  Reply to this comment
ayngelina
22. Aug, 2010
Oh man I remember my lists. I managed to get everything done but procrastinated far too much. Good luck, as yours look long as mine were.
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- Steph
  22. Aug, 2010
  Thanks Ayngelina! Hopefully I will be as successful as you.
  Reply to this comment
Jaime
22. Aug, 2010
Seems so exciting, but I’m sure a bit overwhelming.
Im curious to find out a bit more about you selling your car. Even though I have about year before my RTW trip the one thing that i keep thinking about is if I am going to sell my car or not. Its a 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe and in GREAT condition and it will be paid off by then, however I dont know if i should leave it parked while I am gone or sell it. I know when I get back I am going to need a car cus I live in HOUSTON.
What made you decide to sell your car?
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- Steph
  22. Aug, 2010
  I went back and forth over this, but it came down to two things. 1. my car is NOT paid off yet, so unless I want to make a $300 payment every month it’s got to go and 2. I don’t really know when I’m coming back or what my situation will be then. If I really need a car in the future I figure I can always buy another one. Think it just depends on your long term plans and goals really…
  Reply to this comment
  - Jaime
    22. Aug, 2010
    Well that makes complete sense. Yeah I guess I will have to figure it out when it gets closer to my departure date!
    Reply to this comment
Adam
22. Aug, 2010
As a list-maker myself, I can completely relate. I think my Moleskine notebook is 80% lists – to do or otherwise.
I don’t think I finished everything I meant to finish before I left, but it all worked itself out in the end. For some reason, I forgot to cancel my cell phone account until about 2 months into my trip! Waste of money, but it was easy enough to do while abroad, as most things are!
Reply to this comment
- Steph
  22. Aug, 2010
  Thanks Adam! I figure as long as I get the do or die things done the rest are just inconveniences.
  Reply to this comment
Adam @ Sit Down Disco
22. Aug, 2010
Sounds great! I’m also looking for good travel apps, but to date I haven’t really found any that do the trick too well… except for trip it. I use that a lot. Also like the travelfish apps for south east asia, but you need to be going to those destinations for them to be useful.
As for lists, I’m too confused to start to-dos and I also leave in less than a month for an indeterminate amount of time. Argh! I reckon selling the car is a great idea as it releases you from a massive burden. I’ll be selling the only furniture I own in the coming weeks. My bed and bedside table. I feel good about that because the rest of my stuff can be thrown in boxes without getting damaged.
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- Steph
  22. Aug, 2010
  I’ll let you know what I come up with, but I will probably get the TravelFish apps once I hit SE Asia.
  The to-do lists are psychologically important: they keep me from freaking out over how unprepared I am. It’s sort of working anyways…
  Reply to this comment
SpunkyGirl
22. Aug, 2010
Oh yes, the lists. I’ve started making lists as well. I love making lists. The busy feeling is nice (I leave in 18 days!!!), but now I’m in panic mode- not so fun.
Can’t wait to see you in Asia!!
Reply to this comment
- Steph
  22. Aug, 2010
  Yup the busy staves off the panic kind of. For awhile anyways.
  Can’t wait to see you too! New Years!
  Reply to this comment
Erin
22. Aug, 2010
We found that a lot of inessential things on our list didn’t get done, as you can do them on the road (like downloading apps). Like you said, focus on the important stuff like banking and insurance. Good luck with it!
Reply to this comment
- Steph
  22. Aug, 2010
  Thanks Erin! I’m sure it will all work out.
  Reply to this comment
Akila
22. Aug, 2010
Yeah, one month before we left, we had 180 items on our list. It was a bit insane. And, there’s kind of no way to avoid the shelling out money part.
My advice: don’t worry about booking a hotel in Shanghai yet. You’re starting in Japan, right? So, just book the place for Tokyo and then worry about Shanghai and Australia tix later. The internet in Japan is just amazing so you will have connectivity to book the other things while you’re there. And, you might actually find better deals when you get out of the US because they’ll often let you pay in the local currency and the exchange rates work out better (don’t ask me why this is . . . it just is.)
We actually had this big plan of downloading travel apps but didn’t use any of them and ended up deleting them. I think, if you have a netbook, that you just won’t use those apps cause it’s not as handy.
Three things you should absolutely do for your computer before you leave the country (or you could do it in Japan):
(1) Skype
(2) a VPN or Proxy (we used a proxy and a tunnel into our American server) to get around the sucky internet in China and Internet restrictions . . . make sure you download this before you get to China, but you could do it in Japan. I’m going to write a post about VPN connectivity in a couple of weeks but if you need the info before, just send me an email.
(3) scan your passports and other docs and store them somewhere safe on your computer, preferably in a password protected folder.
Good luck!
Reply to this comment
- Steph
  22. Aug, 2010
  Thanks for the tips Akila! I’m only booking Shanghai because it’s during the last weeks of the expo and might be a bit crowded.I have some certain dates i know I have to be when, so I figure if I book those tickets now I can just not worry about it later.
  Will definitely be doing the other things though!
  Reply to this comment
Jen
22. Aug, 2010
Oh man, good luck wrapping everything up! I am a huge fan of lists; it’s the only way to keep myself sane! Sometimes I feel like all those computer documents, calendar appointments and scraps of paper are my physical mind — tangible where I can keep track of it! LOL
Reply to this comment
- Steph
  22. Aug, 2010
  That’s an amazing way to put it!
  Reply to this comment
Michael
22. Aug, 2010
It sounds like you are going to have an amazing time! I look forward to your updates
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Gray
23. Aug, 2010
Like you, I’m a list creator. I get panicky about getting everything done for a week-long trip, I can only imagine how I’d be for a RTW trip! But I’m sure you will prevail.
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- Steph
  23. Aug, 2010
  Thanks Grey! At some point the length of the trip matters less and it’s just general trip planning i think.
  Reply to this comment
Cornelius Aesop
23. Aug, 2010
I’m a bit of a list junkie as well, for a second I thought that was your dry erase board and would have been slightly jealous. Good luck on your trip!
I’m starting to wonder if I’ll have the chance to meet anyone while I head to Japan, how long/when will you be in Tokyo. I’ll be spending 3 weeks in Yamato, Kanagawa prefecture this December,so not too far outside of Tokyo.
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- Steph
  23. Aug, 2010
  I WISH that was my board! would be so fun! I’ll only be in Japan for two weeks in September, so not likely to have a run in there sadly…
  Reply to this comment
claire
23. Aug, 2010
it will aaaaaallllll come together and then you will get on the plane and breath a big sigh of relief and/or panic, but it won’t matter….because you will be on your way to a trip of a lifetime!
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- Steph
  24. Aug, 2010
  Yeah, it will all work out. Because it just has to!
  Reply to this comment
Lauren Fritsky
23. Aug, 2010
You’re awesome lady, and everything will get done and fall into place as needed. Good luck and well wishes in your final weeks before departure.
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- Steph
  24. Aug, 2010
  Thanks Lauren!
  Reply to this comment
Matt
24. Aug, 2010
Happy days mate! So excited to follow you on your adventure. I now follow a lot of blogs, yet yours is one of the few that is gearing up for a major trip. Excited to see the content you produce in the coming months.
Oh, and go ahead and change that ‘book tickets to auz’ to book tickets to nz!
Reply to this comment
- Steph
  24. Aug, 2010
  Thanks Matt, seems like there were a bunch of people leaving about 6 months ago, and now I’m the only one left! SO ready to get out on the road finally.
  Reply to this comment
Kristin
24. Aug, 2010
So excited and nervous for you! All the best!
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- Steph
  24. Aug, 2010
  Excited and nervous sounds exactly right!
  Reply to this comment
Jeremy
24. Aug, 2010
I have an iPod tutorial guide with all the apps you’ll ever need on my site. Download em all and you’re golden
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- Steph
  24. Aug, 2010
  I actually do have that article bookmarked and have been using it for reference! Thanks Jeremy.
  Reply to this comment
naradb
01. Sep, 2010
Wow… i do the same. lists – they never seem to go away. They just keep creepying back into your lap. Yet – travel list I will never mind that. Great Post!!
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- Steph
  02. Sep, 2010
  It’s true, it’s a regenerating monster list!
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Michael Tyson
03. Sep, 2010
I love lists too! Even so, we didn’t get everything on our to-do lists ticked off before moving overseas indefinitely and it all turned out fine.
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- Steph
  03. Sep, 2010
  Yeah I have to keep reminding myself that I won’t die if I dont get enough passport sized photos
  Reply to this comment
Garreth J Lodge
14. Sep, 2010
Currently making my lists and other stuff aswell! Can’t wait to get out on the road and launch my own site in the coming months! Great post.
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- Steph
  14. Sep, 2010
  Fabulous, good luck!
  Reply to this comment
carmen
20. Sep, 2010
i love this post! i’m the exact same way with lists. i’ve got 3 half-checked-off to-do lists in front of me as i type.
two days until september 22nd! goodluck! looking forward to your rtw posts!
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