We’ve put together a very rough to-do list of things we need to accomplish over the next 6 months. Some of these are things that we can start doing now (and have been!) and some of these will need to wait until we get a bit closer. In the interest of helping others who may follow down this same path, I thought it would be good to share our list. I’ve very loosely grouped them into 4 categories: Paperwork/Banking, Research, To Do, and Purchases. Some of these may cross categories, but this is where we have them for now. I’ve also noted where we are with some of these items, in italics, since there are a few things we’ve already done.

Paperwork/Banking:

• Get updated debit/credit cards (updated expiration dates so they won’t expire while we’re gone, and with a chip in them)
• Make color copies of all important documents (driver’s licenses, passports, birth certificates, marriage license, vaccinations, credit/debit cards)
• Put together list of contact information for family and close friends (like a telephone tree)
• Update resumes
• Add emergency contact to bank info, etc. (dad?)
• Change address (my parent’s house?)
• Alert various companies of change of address
• Cancel renter’s insurance with State Farm
• Cancel Verizon
• Organize information for tax season
• Put mSecure (or other) on all devices with all passwords (give copies of passwords to emergency contact)
• Sort through and get rid of old bills, tax returns, etc. – shred things we don’t need to keep (6 month update: in progress)
• Have a sheet of contact numbers in case something happens (banks, insurance, etc)
• Figure out beneficiaries for bank accounts, 401K, etc. (does this go with the will?)
• Change magazine subscription to dad’s name
• Compile list of all airline frequent flyer numbers, hotel rewards numbers, and car rental account numbers (6 month update: done!)

Research:

• Get blog organized/set-up (and learn how to use it better!) (6 month update: it’s set up, just need to learn how to use it better!)
• Figure out storage in the cloud for pictures and videos
• Research and purchase travel insurance
• Research and write wills and living wills
• Research visa’s to visit Mexico and Belize
• Research flight from Belize to South America (6 month update: I’ve researched, ready to purchase whenever we are)
• Research and look up US Dept of State travel page – where to register when we’re traveling (Smart Traveler program)
• Emergency death plans

To Do:

• Get rid of stuff!!! (6 month update: just got rid of all Halloween and Christmas things that I am not keeping, and boxed up that which I am keeping for storage in my parent’s basement)
• Get vaccinations (6 month update: we had a consultation and have a list of what we need, now are just waiting until it gets closer so they will be active longer)
• Get CPR certified
• Take Spanish class
• Take self-defense class (6 month update: in progress – I’m working with someone at my gym a couple days a week)
• Get international driver’s license (Jon) from AAA (valid for 1 year – need to get just before we leave)
• Get a tune-up for the Malibu
• Dentist appointments
• Renew Jon’s passport (6 month update: done! with extra pages too!)
• Get extra pages for Lana’s passport (6 month update: done!)
• Establish a home for Tucker (6 month update: done! he will be going to my parent’s house while we’re gone)
• Cancel gym membership
• Sell/donate Jon’s car (and cancel insurance)
• Unlock iPhones
• Introduce friends and family to What’s App (or other texting app)
• Sign up for house-sitting website and create profile
• Update AirBNB profile
• Sign up for couchsurfing website and create profile
• Get extra passport photos to take with us
• Upload books to Jon’s Kindle and show him how to use it (6 month update: in progress – now he just needs to practice and start using it!)
• Buy a new Kindle for Lana and organize it
• Put together first aid kit
• Create packing lists (6 month update: in progress – we have a list of what we think we want to take, but knowing it might change as we get closer)
• Arrange last months’ rent with Scott (last month = free; 2^nd to last month = exchange for furniture?)
• Burn all candles and incense (6 month update: Jon is working diligently at this!)
• Drink all alcohol (6 month update: we are giving it the old college try…! ha!)
• Make arrangements for jewelry (where to store, how to handle warranties) (6 month update: due to the robbery, there’s not much jewelry left to worry about! We did get a safe deposit box for the 2 items that I have left, and we will also store our wedding rings in there when we leave)
• Put recipes online or in an app (electronic versions) (6 month update: I’ve been researching but haven’t found an app that I really like yet – if anyone has any recommendations, please let me know!)

Purchases:

• Purchase nice camera and practice using it (6 month update: we purchased it, and just need to practice more!)
• Purchase point-and-shoot camera
• Purchase GoPro
• Purchase laptop
• Purchase sturdy sandals for Jon and Lana
• Purchase hiking pants for Lana

And there you have it… our game plan for the next 6 months!