6 months to go! (I hope)

Well, with my tentative departure set for July - that gives me 6 months to go! I have a lot to do in the next 6 months. (Check out my to do list at the bottom of the page. Let me know if I'm forgetting anything!)

Today I signed up for "travel registration" online with the U.S. State Department. Basically this will allow me to register with the U.S. embassy in each country I visit without having to actually visit the embassy's office. I provide details on my itinerary and travel plans. The embassy will alert me if there are any emergencies. The embassy will also email travel advisories pertaining to my itinerary. See....? Safety first!

I have been researching volunteer work in Belize to start off my trip with. I thought it would be nice to have a "destination" when I first start my trip where someone is expecting me. I hope this will also provide an opportunity to ask questions and get tips for further travel in the region. If you know of any good organizations operating in Central American, please let me know.

I hope to have all of my money saved by July. I need to save $7000 more. This will give me a $55 a day budget. Can one see the world on $55 a day??? We will soon find out. In some countries $55 won't cut it. In others, I would really have to live it up to spend that much. The idea is that I won't spend $55 a day in those countries and use that money when I arrive in more expensive locations.

What if I don't have all of my money saved by July? Well then I will wait. I want to be prepared mentally, physically, and financially. I'm not too impatient about this. I've already waited nearly 2.5 years. I can probably stand another few months. But if I can't.... I will probably go with what I have and charge the rest at the tail end of my trip. I do plan to have a little money saved to come back to so I can get an apartment fairly quickly. Another incentive for a July departure: I want to make it back in time for the "Great Wilson Lake Escape" which will probably be in July of 2009!

I hope you enjoy my blog...Please email me with any comments or questions or concerns!