Just finished packing for our departure from San Jose tomorrow morning. We’re always amazed at how quickly we start collecting stuff ““ but we’re great at getting rid of it when we move on. This time, however, we were smart. We rented a fully furnished house with just about everything we would need in the way of kitchen implements and linens.
A very lovely neighbor who has been cleaning our house these last six months felt like yesterday was Christmas, Hanukah and her birthday all rolled into one. Lydia was particularly thrilled by a few gardening tools and a charcoal briquette barbecue ““ something she said she could use when the power goes off. She didn’t want to seem greedy so she was just picking a few things here and there until I told her that if she wanted she could take it all and make sure it went to a good home.
Our backpacks are ready with clothing, toiletteries and the usual assortment of electronics. Jacob got rid of most of his teaching clothes as he can very cheaply replace these when we arrive in China in three months. I’ve been wearing the same clothes for a couple of years, so I took advantage of this opportunity and am leaving behind a lot of it. We’re back to packing light in order to travel.
The one thing I couldn’t leave behind and will have to carry until we arrive in Los Angeles in a couple of weeks is my thesaurus. It is the best writer’s tool I can think of and I had my sister bring it to me in Mexico from Canada last year. It must weigh at least five pounds. I’ll leave it in L.A. until someone from there travels to China to see us and can carry it in exchange for free room and board in Wenzhou.
We’re both getting very excited at the thought of hitting the road again. We haven’t been as mobile since we ended the 26-month round the world trip one and a half years ago. And six months in San Jose felt a heck of a lot longer what with the rain, the migraines, the crime (did I ever tell you that we were robbed three times in one month!!! Still can’t get over it!).
My “This Expat Life” & “Writing on Wednesdays” blogs are on hiatus until we settle down in Wenzhou in February 2010. Between now and then, I’ll be writing only about Baby Boomers Traveling. Hope you enjoy coming along with us.
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