Going Off Line

 

I’m going off line for a while. Because finally the long-awaited Mediterranean and Transatlantic Cruise is actually going to happen!  

This cruise, well, cruise preparation since I’m not on the cruise yet. Has been quite a learning/growing experience. I have spent more time on line researching everything from ports to explore to where to find or buy a rapid antigen covid test. My credit card has seen more activity than normal and now includes ordering on line – something I avoided in the past.

And I’ve made new friends in the process – 4 of us-Cruisin’ Gals. All with an Escapees RV background so I’m sure we will have lots of traveling stories to share during the long flight(s); while standing in line for Covid tests (although I think the ship has this worked out quite well); at leisure dinners. I am quite confident that the 4 of us will be laughing most of the time. And will manage the new cruising protocols with ease.

I imagine David is laughing along with my new adventures and most likely attempting to reassure me that “it will all work out”. He definitely had the no worries, keep calm attitude. I am attempting to assimilate his attitude as I navigate these new “roads”. I’m not a worry-wart, I just like to consider any and all bumps in the road that may (or may not) appear. LOL

Ordering on line, something I did not do much. Traveling as we did, was not always easy to determine where we would be when the item would arrive; using a billing address with a different shipping address. Not a big deal, I know, but something I did not feel the need to do. However, in preparing for special cruise items I now have the ordering on line down pat! And since I’m usually in one place for a length of time, ordering delays are not an issue. Perhaps a skill I didn’t need to develop as I am really quite enjoying it.

In preparation for this cruise, I’ve gone through several learning curves; challenges;

We, as in the 4 of us gals, thought having the Global Entry card would assist in ease of international travels and being TSA approved, faster for airline check in, etc. Obtaining this card brought a lot of new challenges. Some I’ve written about previously, traveling in the wee hours to the border of Mexico! And I’ve already used the TSA portion on my flight to Florida this summer. And as usual, now that I’ve got it, all the drama involved has been forgotten.

I’ve not done any European travel so while I’ve stopped researching potential ports (due to the constant adding/deleting ports), I know I will enjoy exploring any and all ports that are allowed for disembarking. Either exploring on foot or tour it will all be new and fascinating; some to be added to my must do again list. In preparation for visiting ports, I now know how to order foreign dollars (euros in this case).

Learning, learning, learning and decision making. And this has given me an activity over the summer. I do overthink things but I’m working on doing that less. I like to make lists. And I’m liking ordering on line, what fun to open up the box(es) and finally hold the item purchased. Like my 18 pocket vest; I love it. And it has already come in handy more than once, so a good purchase. Red has been my ordering color because I want to feel as bold as the color red.

I will basically be out of touch until mid November. Will try to post some pictures. In the meantime see what you can do to push yourself just a little bit and discover all new worlds of people, places and things. That’s a challenge David and I gave ourselves annually and now I am living it to the fullest.

18 pocket red vest