The prime departure ritual for all kinds of departures is a couple of sleepless night trying to remember what I’m forgetting. This is often accompanied by a trip to wherever the critical item is stored and placing it on an open surface for the morning. Since we are making a departure for at least a double if not triple trip the loss of sleep has been more extensive than usual. We are leaving the coach and car on the site which adds storage to the normal stress. 

Although I dug out the suitcases a few days ago, we didn’t get around to bring them into the coach to inventory the contents and prepare to add “stuff.” In my case my travel clothes remain packed after washing from the last trip, I only wear them when we are traveling. After wearing for 3 to 6 weeks, I really don’t want to see them, or be seen in them, until the next trip. Carol has a harder time buying clothes so she has a more serious packing job. She can’t dedicate clothing to travel only like I can.

Our first stop is our Rochester apartment which is fully stocked with everything but food so the suitcases will not be unpacked while we are there. Or at least that is the plan. So departure from Rochester to Spain should be relatively easy just requiring closing the apartment for another indeterminate absence. We plan to be there for 5 weeks, our shortest stay in Rochester ever. 

If all goes as planned we will be on tour for 10 days in Spain seeing Jewish sights or sights from a Jewish perspective. Then we will have 7 days in Barcelona in an apartment before flying to Porto, Portugal to join our 10th OAT trip. 

As we have been preparing for this we have used our unplanned time in Jojoba Hills to “enjoy” dry heat – no rain and day time temps in the mid 90’s to low 100’s. As noted in the previous post, lots of projects have been completed. Yesterday the last little bit of carpet was installed and we closed the checkbook for the year – I hope.

I have also been working with the rest of the family to make a year end gathering happen. I did lots of planning for  a stay on the Texas Gulf Coast only to find the drive from Hungry Town Hollow Rd would severely limit the time together. We have moved the location to the Alabama Coast and it took some doing to find a place for 3 rigs over New years Eve at this late date. Fortunately for us Rainbow Plantations an Escapee park found room for us. More on that later, Much later.

I have been playing Bridge several days a week. I think I am getting more consistently mediocre than I used to be. I have been placing well firsts and seconds so I cannot complain. Over the past month two couples that we have gotten to know well have made the decision to move out of the park because one of the couple was losing mental capacity. This is tied to the Bridge paragraph because Sheila, an immediate neighbor and regular player and a friend of Carol’s  is leaving soon since her husband can no longer be left alone for an extended period. She has posted on FaceBook so I am not writing out of turn here.  Carol and I are very sad.  

We both seem to be doing well and our doctors and therapists are inclined to agree. Damn this aging thing gets annoying at times and downright scary at others.