Orders

I just got word that my orders have been issued by the military. I still have the vaguest idea of what I will need to bring and what I should leave home. It's a bizarre thing -- I've packed to move, and I've packed for short trips -- I've never packed in-between, and I've especially never packed when I have been this clueless as to WHAT to pack.

I've scoured the Internet for advice, but there seems to be a marked lack of it - so one thing I will do here is post what I have learned in the hopes that it will help someone else.

We met with a lawyer today and handled some estate planning stuff - always a cheery topic - but it had to be done. The reality of leaving is really beginning to settle in now, and it has my mind running around in circles, arguing with itself over matters both silly and serious. One part will worry about what the living conditions will be, then another will counter that if everyone else over there can hack it, that I can too. Another part screams that everyone should man up and deal with whatever happens. All's quiet until the first part pipes up again, wondering about what I'll be able to buy there versus what I need to bring, and the whole cycle starts over.

Of course, I am worried about the separation from my wife and three kids and how it will affect us. Fortunately, 2 of the kids are young enough to the point that I don't think it will bother them - but the 8 year old is getting discernibly sadder by the day. I am confident that my wife can handle the day-to-day running of the household, but I naturally worry about the extraordinary - hurricanes, fire, car accident, and the like. Fortunately, the list of people who have offered to help her with whatever might arise is long. My extended family is worried about me from a safety perspective; however everything I've read and heard leads me to believe that these fears are almost assuredly unfounded. The funny part, of course, is that everyone is worried about me, while I'm worried about everyone else.

I've started looking into what it would take to operate my ham radio over there. Not terribly sure yet -- and I'm not getting answers to my emails on the subject. Hopefully I get it nailed down soon. If I can get permission to do so, it would greatly relieve the boredom.