Final prep day

Finished up a small load of laundry today and tried to be very conservative as I continued packing. I am very pleasantly shocked and pleased that I think I have everything I might need and the backpack still has room available but I’ve learned that just because there is spare space it doesn’t need to be filled. Though I’ll be traveling 21 days, I’ve essentially packed a week’s worth of clothes. Doing laundry once or twice shouldn’t be an issue although it will certainly not be as wonderful and inexpensive as it was in SE Asia. It cost me about $5.00 to get a week’s clothes laundered there!

My departure time for the UK is so much more respectable in comparison to SEA. My pal Jeter will get me to Orlando International (MCO) about 11:45am for my 2:45pm flight to JFK. When I went to Asia, I had to be at MCO at 4:30am for a 7:30am flight. I have a two hour layover in New York then leave JFK around 8:00pm. Hopefully my TSA Pre-check status will be in the short queue that it usually is.

I don’t think I mentioned that I’m making the trip alone.  There are definitely pro’s and con’s to traveling with others. When I get to England I will be connecting with dear friends for part of the time but other times I’ll be solo again. One of the con’s is that there’s no one to share hotel expense, car rental, fuel, etc. Another is that one gets lonesome after awhile. A pro that I learned years ago when I was living in the UK and making jaunts to the mainland by myself was that I found that when I was by myself I would more often seek out conversation and company from other travelers and/or locals. I think when we travel with others we often stick to our own group and don’t notice others around us as much. That is how I’ve met some really wonderful people around the world.

I think my animals sense that I’m going to be leaving. They’ve been pretty clingy today. I’m grateful I still have my house mate who makes it possible for me to travel and not have to worry about Jack and KC or the house. Thanks Michael!   KC was hilarious this afternoon. She was pretty clingy so I had a little fun with her.