Most of you, who know me, know that I have a tendancy to be anal-hyphen-retentive about things. I like to, at least give the appearance of, be in control. Mostly this works well for me (and gozi – since HE benefits from my control issues). In the run-up to departing Egypt, this is turning out to be a MAJOR hindrance to my mental health!!
Yesterday the crew from the University came to begin our “pack-out”. Leila, the overseer/boss, and her 3 minions were here from 9am to 4pm. In that time, they packed 14 boxes with 430kg (YES, you read that correctly) of stuff.
This is in stark contrast to my packing of our stuff to come here. It took me the better part of the summer to sort, pack, inventory and organize our 9 boxes to move to Egypt. My inventory was a 7 page Excel spread sheet that itemized EVERYTHING, down to the number of pairs of socks, Immodium tablets and packets of Post-it notes. I knew exactly which boxes contained which items, AND (this is one of my odd packing quirks) I had a visual memory of where within each box I could locate said items.
This type of order and control suited me in such an otherwise turbulent time.
I do not have that order or control now. Our boxes are numbered and the inventory to leave states things like “Womens & Mens clothing”. That is the ENTIRITY of the inventory for some boxes!!!!!! I don’t know which items are in which boxes. Boxes of books just say “Books” – not which kinds (computer books, Biology texts, cook books etc.) – just “Books”.
And the problem is, that is not the end of it. We will have a “final pack-out” just before we leave for the “last minute” items. This includes the computers, the SCUBA gear, the last of our clothing! When we move here, we came directly from Seattle, with 4 checked bags. On our way back, we are enjoying our trip – so we are taking minimal luggage, and visiting new and exotic destinations.
This means that ALL our clothing and the stuff we “carried on” to come here has to be shipped. There are minor problems with this – batteries are not allowed in air freight. What are we supposed to do with laptops? Sonicare toothbrush? The batteries, themselves, are nearly equal to the replacement costs of some of the items, and other items it is impossible to remove the batteries. I don’t know what/how to deal with all this. I just keep reminding myself that it will all work out somehow – it always does.
Might i recommend bringing the toothbrush with you as it might come in handy during your travels. :p
Thanks TypO – we weren’t simply going to FORGO ALL toothbrushes for 5 weeks – just the ELECTRONIC one. 😛 It won’t hold a charge for that long!
Sounds like it’s time to TAKE A DEEP BREATH! And go over to the BCA for the evening.
Time for a couple of beers…….if it’s any consolation to you I packed batteries in my suitcase (the same suitcase that went back and forth multiple times from Cairo to the states) and the damn batteries remained in a side pocket the whole time. No one—not one person—EVER said one word to me about them…….not even TSA! Take a risk and enjoy the beer!
We’re just worried, since we are not going directly back to the States, and are carrying minimal luggage on our trip, the stuff that would normally just have gone in checked luggage now has to be carried for 5 weeks or put in the shipment. It will all work out – it usually does.
Think I’ll take you and Sara up on the beer suggestion!!