Painting My Spirit Gold

I’m thinking we shouldn’t have waited until less than our final month in our apartment and final two months in the USA to create our list but I guess now it is creating a stronger sense of urgency than it would have 6 months ago.  (I will report back and let everyone know how this decision to put it off pans out).  It wasn’t until I took a step back from everything, sat down with Dan for about 4 hours, and made a list of all of the things we needed to cancel, tie up, or change before we leave, did I really realize 1. how many things I’m connected to or depend on me and 2. how much we need to do!

I was surprised how little Dan and I had initially worried about wrapping up our lives and finding time to do the things we want after we made our list, such as spend time with friends and family, our cats, enjoy our apartment, savor our time in the city.  So I did what any normal person would do. Two days after creating it, I decided to accomplish one of the to-do items, drank a few glasses of wine and went on a FRENZY.  The goal was to clean out the apartment and choose things to donate. I became a tipsy woman just throwing stuff out and it felt amazing (besides the fact that I almost threw out my IU Diploma in my state of haste). I created two trash bags full of stuff to throw out just from my closet and kitchen and made a pile of about three trash bags of things to donate.  And I’m not even done yet.

I came to the realization after some reflection after what I’d done is that at this stage in my life, the thought of simplifying it is pretty exciting. Who knew that getting rid of things I never use (and would have never gotten rid of had we just been moving to a new apartment) could feel so good and could actually be something I may be searching for?  As I look at our to-do list, I’m really excited at the prospects of not having a phone bill, car insurance payments, etc.  Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to shake all of my responsibilities, relationships, and connections – that isn’t what I’m saying at all.  It’s just the extra things that I think that I need, that cause stress or clutter, but do I really need them?  Are they really adding anything to my life or are they causing me more stress?  I am fully aware that I won’t be able to escape these things forever nor will I probably want to, but having this experience may give me a different outlook on what I really need or want to bind myself to moving forwards.

So here is the list that we made.  We also put dates to everything and divvied up all of the responsibilities.  It probably isn’t comprehensive and I’d like to post a more “official” list after everything is said and done but here is what we have so far:

THINGS WE NEED TO DO

1. Move out of apartment
   1. Schedule movers
   2. Pay deposit and elevator fee
   3. Forward Mail
   4. Cancel internet/cable/electric
   5. Pack and choose things to donate
   6. Notify parking spot owner
   7. Final walk through/security deposit with landlord

2.   Cats
   1. Find in home pet care
   2. Find a vet in the suburbs – have cat’s records sent there
   3. Buy large supply of litter, food (canned and dry), treats, floor scratch pad
   4. Extra money for cat supplies

3.   Insurance
   1. Choose Travel Insurance and purchase plan
   2. Prepare prescriptions
   3. Dan dentist and Dan doctor to sign off for scuba diving
   4. Cancel Car Insurance
   5. Cobra coverage for September

4.   Cell Phones
   1. Cancel plans day before departure
   2. Look into buying sim cards
   3. Get xt new phone

5.   Banking
   1. Notify Banks
   2. Account structure
   3. 401k

6.   Prepare for Colombia
   1. Purchase flights
   2. Proof of departure upon entrance into Colombia
   3. Accommodations for first month
   4. Spanish school for Dan
   5. Scuba for Dan

7.   Shop for items we need to buy – this is a whole separate list in itself.
   1. Upload books to kindles
   2. Download music onto phones/computers

8.   Create a will
   1. Give parents power of attorney over our finances in case of emergency

9.  Scan and email all important documents
   1. Passport
   2. Credit Cards
   3. Insurance Policy

Did we miss anything?