Next month....

This is our last full month in Arequipa.  My days and even dreams to a certain extent are becoming consumed with details of our departure....figuring out what we can sell off now, what to put in the garage sale later this month, how much cash we need and if we have enough for daily living off what we are selling now, and what we have to do to get home.

I'm determined to not have this be as stressful as our US departure and so far we've been getting enough sleep and also getting ready.  I planned my work schedule so I am working more now and can taper off my hours the last few weeks.  I have a list of things to buy before we go (like souvenirs we haven't purchased yet) and bills we have to pay.

We've done great on pre-selling a number of items- still have our appliances, couches, and kitchen table to get rid of, but I'm hoping the garage sale will bring some buyers.

But then there is the other stuff.  The saying goodbye to friends.  The planning for "one last time" outings.  When will be the last time we walk Puente Bolognesi and look out over the bridge vista?  (I'm scared of heights but I like this walk...it's the place that reminds me the most of MN with a nice river and green trees.  Those mountains in the back don't exactly evoke the MN vibe but I like to think of it as my two worlds colliding.)  The trying to make sure we are living here and not just existing.  The daily stuff of paying bills and buying groceries and such.

The "Three Sisters" mountains in the background.

My favorite view.  The river, the trees, and the mountains.

I'm an analyzer by nature and this is no different....what have we accomplished on this sabbatical?  It's certainly not everything I had thought would happen before we came.  It's been difficult and stretching in different ways than I had expected.  I am certain I'll be processing for months to come.  I'm glad we came and I'm looking forward to going back home again.

And I really want someone to buy our appliances.  :)