Packing, Packing, Packing!

My little house looks like a hurricane and a tornado met inside it!  There are suitcases everywhere - the ones that I need for the first ten weeks and then two for the rest of the time.  

I had hoped to make it with three suitcases (for the first part) but soon after I brought the cases into the house, I realized that was not going to happen.  On a cruise I cannot pack light.  I need all my creature comforts as well as my "what ifs".  On a ship you can't always find what you might need so I come prepared for sewing emergencies, eye glass repairs, various infections, knitting problems, poor light in my cabin, sore feet, etc., etc., etc.

For the 140 days on the Zuiderdam, I need to pack more books (just don't love reading on a device - I need to hold a book), most of the Linus blankets I have been making for the last two years (leaving some home for the 2024 GWV), and my clothes for the cooler (possibly cold) weather we will have when we get to Europe in April.

Two of my suitcases will be picked up this Wednesday (September 28) and then the two for the Zuiderdam will be picked up from a friend's house (thank you, Carolyn!) in December.  Holland America is using Luggage Forward this time.  In the past they arranged to pick up the luggage through FedEx but have now changed.  I do not qualify for the free service (I don't have a high enough cabin category) and the prices are higher than in the past.  Not sure if this is just because of inflation or a change of company, but it is worth it to not have to wrangle all that luggage numerous times.  I will still have to schlep it at the end of the first cruise but more about that later. 

As of tonight, I have finished packing the two cases leaving on Wednesday.  Both come in at about 45 pounds so if I find anything small I can still stuff it in but I think I have everything that needs to go in them packed.

Two weeks from today I will be in Fort Lauderdale (provided I pass my COVID test on October7) and ready for this adventure to begin!

Smooth sailing until next time!