Day minus 16

Marina Puerto Vallarta
Well, finally underway after months of planning. How do you pack for eight months? What do you take and what can you do without? I hope my endless lists did the trick – yet I have that nagging feeling there was something crucial I forgot. I guess I always feel that way at the start of a big trip. Usually there is nothing that I either cannot do without or that I can’t find when I need it. This last part won’t be true when the boat is a thousand miles from land.
Ian picked me up at seven and reminded me one more time not to check anything critical. “What will you do if the airline looses it? he said. Hey, I’m a sophisticated frequent traveler (SFT) so I know what to do. Not long after I got to the airport, they took away my SFT card. I had forgotten the dreaded “no liquids, gels or aerosols” rule. My one checked bag was already gone when security discovered sunblock, insect repellent and a corkscrew in my carry on. I guess packing at midnight was not such a good idea. And I thought I was so well prepared in advance. Hey, sometimes even the Babe struck out.
Reflecting on the departure I realized that while I was excited to be starting this adventure I was also more than a little sad to say goodbye to Chorna. She has been my little companion for over sixteen years – following me around, sitting on my lap. She will be seventeen in March and even Lhasa Apsos do not live forever and I am sure she will not last another eight months. She followed me out the front door and after loading the car, I picked her up, gave her a hug and let her give one last lick on the nose with her little pink tongue.