Today I depart on a one way ticket (Business Class using AAdvantage miles!) to India. This is a bit of a different approach from my last trip since I honestly have no idea when I’m actually coming back “home.”
I’m not ready.
– There are some things I wasn’t able to accomplish while in the US due to logistics and timing. Nothing critical, just a few things I wanted to do that I didn’t make happen.
– I have 2 print books I wanted to read, but didn’t have a chance to even start page 1. I only read one book at a time, and while I did finish a few print books, I didn’t make it to these last 2 (Alain De Botton’s The Art of Travel
– I just got a new computer (12.1″ screen, higher resolution and much easier to work on than a 10″ netbook) and the Windows 7 transition has been less than stellar.
– I’ll miss my family and friends even though I don’t see many of them on a very regular basis anyway.
And then there are some What Ifs, mostly:
– What if I get sick?
– What if I can’t find suitable health services wherever I happen to be?
– What if I get mugged?
And other stuff that’s out of my control.
Then I realized none of us are ever ready.
It’s impossible to prepare for every contingency.
You can plot and plan. You can can write lists and make phone calls. You can review and research.
You can do “everything,” but it won’t be enough. Accept it.
It’s almost guaranteed that things won’t go as planned.
If nothing else, I’m ready for that.