The following is sort of an outline of what we did in the 11 weeks from when we decided to do this round the world trip until we left. Warning: This will probably be incredibly boring unless you are thinking about traveling around the world.

Week 1: JUMP IN! June 17-23
This week was devoted to starting to make a dream into reality.

LEAVING THE JOB:
R got laid off setting the plan in motion. Probably if one isn't laid off but rather quits, this step could be pushed to the 5th or 6th week.

CLOSING THE BUSINESS:

• informed clients and collaborators of impending business closure
  
• worked out time schedules for work completion and arranged for others to take over jobs.
  
• consulted with an accountant on what I needed to do about taxes; arranged for parents to receive w2s; If you don’t have complex taxes, arrange for someone you trust to do them for you;

PLANING THE TRIP:

• started making list of places we want to visit
  
• started researching visas

TOO MUCH STUFF:

• Made list and began selling stuff to friends and on Craig’s List

PUTTING AFFAIRS IN ORDER

• checked credit reports

SOCIAL

• told friends about trip

Week 2: ROUGHING OUT A PLAN June 24-30
We were struck by the overwhelming amount of things we needed to do

PLANNING THE TRIP:

• started researching airfares for other legs of the trip (note: we already had a ticket to Peru, if we didn’t we would probably have tried to purchase a ticket ASAP)
  
• checked out travel guides from library to research countries

TOO MUCH STUFF:

• bought storage boxes; (or if you have time or know people working in places that have boxes, go and beg boxes )
  
• considered options of what to do with stuff: should we try to get rid of everything?; should we ship it to my parents in HI?; should we pay for storage?

PUTTING AFFAIRS IN ORDER:

• made (a first) list of what needed to be done
  
• called auto insurance but can only suspend it for 6 months (Interestingly enough 8 weeks later when I called I was told we’d still get all our good driving credits a year later so who knows?)

WEEK 3: BUDGET July 1-7
Unfortunately it is wise to take $$ into consideration when thinking about long term travel

PLANNING THE TRIP1:

• started estimating costs
  Great tools for estimating:
  • Kayak.com - searches bunches of airlines
  • www.xe.com - currency conversion
  • www.solotravel.org/travel-budget-calculator.htm - estimates budget for various countries
  
• signed up for membership in South American Explorers Club

WEEK 4: LITTLE IMPORTANT THINGS July 8-14

RESEARCH

• researched basics about Central Asia, Australia and SE Asia

THE BLOG

• got blog up and running

PUTTING AFFAIRS IN ORDER:

• started changing addresses: 401K, magazines

TRIP PREP:

• bought necessary equipment (sleeping bags, new raincoats, travel gear)
  
• researched and ordered international cell phone

HEALTH

• started trying to get all needed dental work done
  
• began researching health insurance options

CLOSING THE BUSINESS

• arranged to receive final paychecks from clients

STUFF

• began gathering stuff to be sold in yard sale

WEEK 5: HEALTH July 15-21
RESEARCH

• Researched malaria
  
• Made list of places we’d go (and malaria risk)
  
• began researching and discussing banking issues with banks. The internet and prevalence of ATMs all over the place means there are a lot of options to consider. I was impressed with how easy it now is to move money between different bank accounts at different banks online.

HEALTH

• went to travel clinic for immunizations

TOO MUCH STUFF:

• yard sale preparation: pricing + free ads online
  
• had yard sale

WEEK 6: FAMILY VISIT July 22-28

STUFF

• had local charity pick up stuff that didn't sell at yard sale
  
• brought what we could carry on a plane to parents' house and went over where things were and how to get things I might need

PUTTING AFFAIRS IN ORDER:

• put my dad in charge of finances and got him a power of attorney

HEALTH

• relaxed
  
• read the final Harry Potter book

WEEK 7: TYING UP LOOSE ENDS July 29- August 4
RESEARCH:

• went on travel DVD watching spree

CLOSING BUSINESS:

• gathered information for accountant for taxes; gave family accountant info

TOO MUCH STUFF:

• listed car online and in Autotrader and Union Tribune

CLOSING THE BUSINESS

• Gave other designers copies of my archives; worked on final projects

WEEK 8: GETTING 5-11
RESEARCH:

• turned research focus back to Peru, first stop

CLOSING THE BUSINESS

• met with accountant for tax estimate

PUTTING AFFAIRS IN ORDER:

• reserved hostel for arrival in Lima (as well as airport pickup)

THE BLOG

• informed everyone about blog

WEEK 9 SEEING A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL Aug. 12-18

CLOSING THE BUSINESS

• completed work for clients and sent final invoices

PUTTING AFFAIRS IN ORDER:

• bought traveler’s checks
  
• called banks and had them note account (about traveling)
  
• changed address with IRS

STUFF

• sold car
  
• reserved rental car for taking stuff to friends for storage

TRIP PREP

• bought final travel needs
  
• got hair cut
  
• made photocopies of important documents

SOCIAL

• had going away party

HEALTH

• took oral typhoid vaccine (should be taken at least a week before traveling

WEEK 10 SOME QUICK TRIPS Aug 19-25
CLOSING THE BUSINESS

• burned back up DVDs of important computer files as well as back up on external

HEALTH

• bought prescriptions (after unsuccessful trip to Tijuana)
  
• finished up final medical stuff

TRIP PREP

• checked expiration dates on debit cards and realized needed to get new one
  
• crammed Spanish with my new favorite Spanish learning resource Spanish Sense

STUFF and SOCIAL

• drove to friends house (out of state) to store stuff and visit

WEEK 11 LAST CHANCE! Aug. 26-31

PUTTING AFFAIRS IN ORDER:

• opted-out Rowshan from pre-approved credit card mailing lists (had done this for myself ages ago)
  
• canceled unused credit cards
  
• filled out mail forwarding form for post office
  
• canceled utilities and arranged for final bill payment (most online)
  
• returned all library stuff
  
• canceled auto insurance
  
• changed addresses with banks
  
• changed address with DMV
  
• cleaned house

HEALTH

• bought travel insurance
  
• made list of emergency contact numbers

TRIP PREP

• packed everything and evaluated what I was bringing; then repacked...

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THINGS I WISH I HAD DONE EARLIER

• checked expiration dates on debit/credit cards
  
• gotten prescriptions (more time to investigate options like purchasing over the internet)