I Got Nothin'.

With the impending move date / travel date looming ever closer, I’m in a bit of a tailspin. Creativity is blocked. (Ironically, I’ve had a rush of writing contracts for others in the last week or so, which seem to be clipping along just fine...). The days and weeks are a frantic and unorganized mix of packing, researching (destinations, visa requirements, hostels, lending out my car), appointments (travel clinic, bank, garage), and, here is where I should say “reservations” (movers, storage space), but neither of those are booked yet. I also can’t say “purchases” (backpack, trail shoes, travel clothes, travel gadgets), as I haven’t begun any of that either. I hesitate to get too deep into the purchasing part until I actually have money in my hands from the sale of the house (notaries July 31). Until then, everything goes on credit, and that makes me nervous.

I have done a grand total of 4 things for my trip: 1) booked a one-way ticket to Croatia (on credit); 2) bought travel insurance (on credit); 3) purchased a week of unemployment-pays’-worth of travel guides (on credit); and 4) purchased a day pack (using a gift certificate I had still hanging around from my last birthday) and a cute wrinkle-free travel skirt (it was too functional and perfect to pass up....on credit.) Did I mention that credit makes me nervous?

As far as my move is concerned, I have packed about 10 boxes, given away 5 times that much, and completed my third and final garage sale attempt. The house is pretty lean and mean now, which should make packing faster and easier (but strangely hasn’t done either. I am trying not to blame the house.) To top it all off, I am heading out to Calgary on Friday for a week to see my family (feeling smug about using up the Aeroplan points before they expire in October). Getting away from these four walls and into Big Sky country will probably do me some good. I am trying not to panic (more) about losing a weeks' worth of packing / planning time. I will take all 900 of the travel guides with me that I've purchased and hope to get some reading done while in the presence of the magestic Rockies. And of course It will be great to see everyone before I head out.

So, in the complete absence of creativity, in an attempt to keep you, loyal reader, entertained, I will defer to some others who have so kindly (and unknowingly) stepped in at my time of need to provide some insightful and philosophical fodder for my blog. Until the next time.....

“Millions of [people] have become so used to not being happy that they barely even notice it. For them, it’s like living next to a railroad track – after a while, you don’t even hear the trains.” Dan Baker, Ph.D. from “What Happy People Know”

“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings.” Elizabeth Gilbert, from “Eat, Pray, Love”

“How can you get very far,
If you don’t know Who You Are?
How can you do what you ought,
If you don’t know What You’ve Got?
And if you don’t know Which to Do
Of all the things in front of you,
Then what you’ll have when you are through
Is just a mess without a clue
Of all the best that can come true
If you know What and Which and Who."
The Tao of Pooh