December 11, 2013: 11 Days til launch

I am waiting for one last student to send me her (late) final paper so I can wrap up final grades for the year. I am spending WAY TOO MUCH time on trademe.co.nz looking at potential apartments in or near Wellington. Rentals are 2-3 times higher than in Sarasota, so the questions keep me spinning: furnished? view? city or suburb? walking distance or public transport?

This morning a friend asked, "So, how does one pack to be away for 8-12 months?" My answer: I am still trying to figure that out! I need to figure it out, and fast. We will arrive in the midst of summer, but leave NZ after winter. If I get the Fulbright for Australia, we will be there in Spring/start of summer. Two suitcases don't go far for a 4-season wardrobe, but we will make do.

It is strange not to put out my usual solstice decorations for the holidays, but Brendan would have to put them all away by himself, so I have refrained. One less thing to worry about. Meanwhile, I still need to find an accountant to figure out paying tax on the NZ stipend and sending off the income tax while away. I've fit in the dr., dentist, dermatologist, optometrist, legal papers, insurance, finance guy, and nearly everything else I could think of. Today is prepping the car for sitting in the driveway for a year.

It was certainly simpler when I left for Ireland in 1980 as a grad student who owned nothing...

I am not complaining, of course! But I am a bit anxious.