Planning

[lawyerrose]

i love the planning. I research online and print out all kinds of information.

I use cc ports of call board and get valuable information there.

I join the roll call and get lots of info and ideas from that and have also joined others on a private tour.

I buy guide books and mark them up with ideas of things to do.

I enjoy making packing lists and tweaking them as the weeks go by.

I agree with those who say 'planning is half the fun'.

However, it's loose planning, not rigid. We book most of our excursions ahead of time but aren't afraid to cancel if we change our minds.

 

you're my twin!!!!

[patfla06]

I'm with you - I LOVE making lists for packing.

 

My husband NEVER makes a list and packs methodically

but I always feel like he's going to miss something.

 

I love the list on my night table and crossing off items.

 

I also use ziploc bags to organize things which keeps

everything clean and so easy to grab items from them.

 

Going on another cruise soon and there is my list!

[patfla06]

I found this great zippered pouch by Real Simple @ Target.

I used it for our 17 day trip to Italy & Paris this Fall to keep

everything organized.

 

Going to use it this time too for passports, travel docs and

all other "stuff" you need to have.

 

Once I get on board I'm very cool and calm and do NOT feel

like I have to be running all the time.

 

We use the cruise as a "spa" vacation - eat well, exercise

and relax. I guess I need it after all the planning I do, ha, ha....

[michmike]

I'm envious of such great traveling friends and all your travel together!! Enjoy every moment! What a blessing.

 

They'd be put out if I forgot to mention them as we plan for them as well, and as with our other friends, they never complain either. We take 2 rubber chickens along: Sal Monella and his girlfriend Kaye F. Sea, as well as some screaming, flying monkeys that always seem to stow away in our luggage.

 

Sal has been to the great wall of China, the Berlin wall and Hadrians wall. Wall Drug is on his bucket list (although he and Kaye both tend to startle a bit when they hear the word "bucket" Hmmmmmmmm)

 

Kaye's exploits have pretty much been confined to the Caribbean.

 

Pics of them in their cruise gear as well as of the monkeys, are attached.

[shuttlebuggy]

I too love the planning! :D

 

My husband loves & appreciates my efforts very much.

He knows that much like my late father did, that I relish and take

great joy in doing this. Even as someone in this thread so aptly described "blurry eyed at the computer" was her bliss! So true as well for me!

 

My Dad was a bit too much for even me, planning & writing out the day from sun up to sundown

with down to the minute exacting detail! :(

 

We would joke. that he even had how many times we

would breath & how deeply some where on those handwritten plans he'd

give us all!

But we loved him for it and miss him in our travels these days.;)

 

There hasn't been a trip planned for or taken that we don't think of the happy :)

man who imparted the excitement for "what's waiting round the bend"...