Confronting T-minus 2 weeks

Looking through my upcoming travel plans, I realized what little time I have left in the states. By realize, I mean that I was forced to confront what I've been pushing off as happening some time vaguely soon in the sort of near future. Sure, I've weeded through my clothes (my sister will have an entire new wardrobe), found somebody to take over my lease (thank you random white house economist), and switched banks to one with no ATM fees internationally (goodbye fee charging Wachovia!). I just haven't really addressed the whole "leaving (almost) everybody I've ever known behind" thing. For another country. On the opposite side of the planet.

I've always loved a good adventure. Even as a child I was bewildered when other kids got homesick at sleepover parties. "Um, you can go home tomorrow," I always thought. But, Australia isn't as easy to return from as a sleepover.

Making the whole thing more complicated is my recent traveling work life. Traveling to New York Mon-Thursday has really put a damper on seeing friends and family on a regular basis. Mainly I wish I had more weekends to spend visiting friends and family before I leave.

Luckily this bittersweet aspect of moving is contrasted by all the wonderful aspects of Australia (see Matt's post for examples). It doesn't *quite* seem real yet (I'll be leaving in two weeks? Really?). But I'm assuming that once there, the adventures will be worthy of many, many blog posts (Sorry I've been slacking at posting so far).

Nerves about the relocation have continued to keep me up at night. All I could think about when my head hit the pillow were things I had left to figure out and plan and get rid of and pack and etc etc etc. Finally, as "the takeoff" nears, I have changed from  having "Did I leave the stove on"-esque stress to more positive "I can't wait to cook this new recipe!" anticipation. (Matt will roll his eyes at this analogy since I've never cooked him a meal. Hey, there's another adventure...)