Checklist: What to Do Before You Go
Feb 18th, 2014, 01:21 PM
#21
d___sex probably has never worked for anyone. One just taking off w/o pre approval isn't allowed in most industries. Just leaving whenever they want ain't happening. In fact in many companies or government agencies -- all vacation time for the entire year is allocated/assigned in January. If you don't get your request in on time you will be given time off when the boss thinks it fits best for work loads. And in many - all leave is denied during high volume work periods (like CPAs or IRS employees Jan-April)
Now - he'll come back and call us all sheep . . . (BTW -- I personally don't have to ask anyone permission for anything -- but I do know how the real world works)
Now - he'll come back and call us all sheep . . . (BTW -- I personally don't have to ask anyone permission for anything -- but I do know how the real world works)
Feb 18th, 2014, 01:38 PM
#22
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Janisj- leave in the federal government is rough! I like to plan an international trip each fall but I don't usually get everything in order for that until late spring. I also enjoy taking 4-5 day trips to visit family or just see a new city but I can't imagine having to plan all that in January. And here I thought I'd made a rather banal comment to the OP. That'll show me 
Feb 18th, 2014, 07:18 PM
#24
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The State Department registration thing may seem over the top, but it's not such an absurd idea, really. Having had friends in the foreign service, I know it's no fun for them when an American tourist ends up in some sort of snafu: low man on the totem pole gets rousted out of bed in the middle of the night to deal with emergencies great and small. Registration doesn't prevent emergencies, of course, but embassy staff like knowing who is in their country and for what reason, especially in volatile areas.
<I can't see any reason for a European travelling in Europe to register with the "U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program".>
Really, you can't? That's because it's for Americans. Ahem. But that was terribly witty.
<I can't see any reason for a European travelling in Europe to register with the "U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program".>
Really, you can't? That's because it's for Americans. Ahem. But that was terribly witty.
Feb 18th, 2014, 07:23 PM
#25
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<sigh> I know I'm going to regret responding to these comments, but some sort of ridiculous, masochistic impulse compels me.
Regarding trip insurance: I don't take out trip insurance. I'm not booking cruises -- I book my travel independently and if I cancel the penalties are low. However, I do travel to a lot of third-world countries, and for those I take out evacuation insurance. It's in the full blog post.
november_moon: you get it. I am extremely detail-oriented, and I recognize the humor in this fact, which is why I admitted to it in my opening introduction.
Dulciusexperlis: There's a distinction between overly detail-oriented (guilty) and anal-retentive. I pack every single thing I will need; however, I do not pack everything in alphabetical order, or arrange my cosmetics according to size, or ensure that all my shoes point in the same direction. See the difference?
Sondrali: Good point. I don't stop my mail because I have a petsitter pick it up (full post). I didn't mention that here.
Hobbert: You and Dulciusexperlis deserve each other.
anyegr: Am assuming you're a guy, not single. As a single woman, I do want to look my best before a trip (or when I'm not traveling). For solo travelers, trips are opportunities to meet new people.
Peeter_S_Aus: Thank you. Part of my confirming is picking a good seat. I reference Seatguru in the full post.
Dulciusexperlis (again): I register with the State Department because I do travel to countries where there are wars, riots, terrrorist attacks. You're not going to need to do that with your adventurous, spontaneous trips to Switzerland.
I mostly agree with Hobbert re: taking/requesting time off work. My work is cyclical. My company is generous with vacation time. In return, I show my appreciation for their generosity by taking vacations only during the slow times.
Regarding trip insurance: I don't take out trip insurance. I'm not booking cruises -- I book my travel independently and if I cancel the penalties are low. However, I do travel to a lot of third-world countries, and for those I take out evacuation insurance. It's in the full blog post.
november_moon: you get it. I am extremely detail-oriented, and I recognize the humor in this fact, which is why I admitted to it in my opening introduction.
Dulciusexperlis: There's a distinction between overly detail-oriented (guilty) and anal-retentive. I pack every single thing I will need; however, I do not pack everything in alphabetical order, or arrange my cosmetics according to size, or ensure that all my shoes point in the same direction. See the difference?
Sondrali: Good point. I don't stop my mail because I have a petsitter pick it up (full post). I didn't mention that here.
Hobbert: You and Dulciusexperlis deserve each other.
anyegr: Am assuming you're a guy, not single. As a single woman, I do want to look my best before a trip (or when I'm not traveling). For solo travelers, trips are opportunities to meet new people.
Peeter_S_Aus: Thank you. Part of my confirming is picking a good seat. I reference Seatguru in the full post.
Dulciusexperlis (again): I register with the State Department because I do travel to countries where there are wars, riots, terrrorist attacks. You're not going to need to do that with your adventurous, spontaneous trips to Switzerland.
I mostly agree with Hobbert re: taking/requesting time off work. My work is cyclical. My company is generous with vacation time. In return, I show my appreciation for their generosity by taking vacations only during the slow times.
Feb 19th, 2014, 02:49 AM
#26
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Esme_Travels- I'd still like to know your reasoning behind taking a laxative before traveling. I had a bit of fun with dulciusexpaseris (or whatever his name is) but I can't fathom why someone would do this. And, yes, I travel to odd places with food I can't identify and water that's undrinkable. It's not something I'll personally engage in but I'd like to understand the motivation behind your suggestion. Otherwise, I think your list seems quite reasonable. A bit more detailed oriented than I am, but there's nothing negative about that.
Feb 19th, 2014, 07:39 AM
#27
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"It's not a philosophical issue if you need that job to survive. Especially if you have other people (children, maybe) who depend on you for food and a place to live."
Everyone is free to choose how they live their lives anyegr. Most people however do not realize they can actually choose.
You can be the victim of change or the architect of change, it's your choice. What is inevitable is that change will occur. Most people do not make a conscious choice, they simply go with the flow and do what everyone else does. That 'non-choice' is in fact having made a choice. They choose to be a victim.
Anyone telling me they 'need THAT job' is a victim. I used to 'work' for a living before figuring out that I had a choice. You don't NEED to work, in fact most people would obviously prefer not to. What you NEED is to have enough money to live the life you want to live. The assumption is that you have to work to earn that money. It's an assumption, not a fact. You do not NEED THAT job, you NEED money.
We do have to live within society as it exists and that means we need money to do so comfortably but how we get that money and how much we need are things we can control.
There are two kinds of people in the world (in terms of this issue). Those who work for money and those who do not need to do so. Otherwise known as the working class and the leisure class.
Anyone who is retired for example no longer needs to work, they have moved into the leisure class. In times past, no such move was possible. You worked until you were no longer able and then depended on family to support you until you had the good grace to die and relieve them of the burden of having to look after you. The invention of pensions changed that obviously.
So why not ask yourselves, why don't I retire NOW instead of continuing to work for my money? Wouldn't it be better to not have to work?
That leads you to asking yourself, how can I do that? People retire every day at ages far younger than 65. How do they do that? Luck? Or have they decided to be the architect of change and to make the change they want, happen?
Even if the ONLY change you wanted to make was being able to take a vacation whenever YOU wanted to, not when someone else ALLOWED you to, deciding you were going to be the architect of that change would set your mind on a far different path than saying, 'I need to have that job'. There are all kinds of jobs you could choose to do that allow you that freedom.
So no anyegr, you don't have to give up your independence, you already have anyway. What you need to do is gain the independence that you do not currently have.
Most people live and work 'in the system' and the system is in charge. There is no law saying you cannot decide to change the rules and USE the system to suit yourself.
I decided in my mid-30s to move to the leisure class. I did so by my early 40s. As for having enough money to feed the kids and pay the mortgage along with being able to take a vacation whenever I chose to do so, I had that by my late 20s.
We all make choices whether we know we are doing so or not. If you choose to stay in a job that means someone else tells you when you can vacation or not, that's YOUR CHOICE.
Everyone is free to choose how they live their lives anyegr. Most people however do not realize they can actually choose.
You can be the victim of change or the architect of change, it's your choice. What is inevitable is that change will occur. Most people do not make a conscious choice, they simply go with the flow and do what everyone else does. That 'non-choice' is in fact having made a choice. They choose to be a victim.
Anyone telling me they 'need THAT job' is a victim. I used to 'work' for a living before figuring out that I had a choice. You don't NEED to work, in fact most people would obviously prefer not to. What you NEED is to have enough money to live the life you want to live. The assumption is that you have to work to earn that money. It's an assumption, not a fact. You do not NEED THAT job, you NEED money.
We do have to live within society as it exists and that means we need money to do so comfortably but how we get that money and how much we need are things we can control.
There are two kinds of people in the world (in terms of this issue). Those who work for money and those who do not need to do so. Otherwise known as the working class and the leisure class.
Anyone who is retired for example no longer needs to work, they have moved into the leisure class. In times past, no such move was possible. You worked until you were no longer able and then depended on family to support you until you had the good grace to die and relieve them of the burden of having to look after you. The invention of pensions changed that obviously.
So why not ask yourselves, why don't I retire NOW instead of continuing to work for my money? Wouldn't it be better to not have to work?
That leads you to asking yourself, how can I do that? People retire every day at ages far younger than 65. How do they do that? Luck? Or have they decided to be the architect of change and to make the change they want, happen?
Even if the ONLY change you wanted to make was being able to take a vacation whenever YOU wanted to, not when someone else ALLOWED you to, deciding you were going to be the architect of that change would set your mind on a far different path than saying, 'I need to have that job'. There are all kinds of jobs you could choose to do that allow you that freedom.
So no anyegr, you don't have to give up your independence, you already have anyway. What you need to do is gain the independence that you do not currently have.
Most people live and work 'in the system' and the system is in charge. There is no law saying you cannot decide to change the rules and USE the system to suit yourself.
I decided in my mid-30s to move to the leisure class. I did so by my early 40s. As for having enough money to feed the kids and pay the mortgage along with being able to take a vacation whenever I chose to do so, I had that by my late 20s.
We all make choices whether we know we are doing so or not. If you choose to stay in a job that means someone else tells you when you can vacation or not, that's YOUR CHOICE.
Feb 19th, 2014, 07:47 AM
#28
well lah di dah -- Aren't you special.
Like I warned - he is now telling everyone they are sheep because they actually have real jobs and navigate in the real world. Not some fantasy (and yes, Peter - very Walter Mitty-esque)
Like I warned - he is now telling everyone they are sheep because they actually have real jobs and navigate in the real world. Not some fantasy (and yes, Peter - very Walter Mitty-esque)
Feb 19th, 2014, 12:29 PM
#31
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It's too bad that after all these years, some of you can't recognize a troll when you see one. Or perhaps you just can't resist replying. Anyway, it's too bad because I actually thought a discussion of pre-travel preparations could be fun, funny, and helpful. Unlike a discussion of Who Has Life Figured Out Best.
Me!
Me!
Me!
Yawn.
Me!
Me!
Me!
Yawn.
Feb 19th, 2014, 01:23 PM
#33
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"they actually have real jobs and navigate in the real world. Not some fantasy"
Umm, last time I checked, I live in the same world as everyone else. The only difference is I don't need to work for a living.
I wasn't born into that (no such luck unfortunately), I simply chose to put myself into that position. I 'navigated' myself to there janisj.
I will however freely admit that not everyone is capable of doing the same. That's their problem though, not mine and my pointing out there is an alternative that some people might consider is hardly a troll NewbE.
Then there's suze, who can't even figure out who a comment is directed at. Not likely to move to the leisure class any time soon.
Umm, last time I checked, I live in the same world as everyone else. The only difference is I don't need to work for a living.
I wasn't born into that (no such luck unfortunately), I simply chose to put myself into that position. I 'navigated' myself to there janisj.
I will however freely admit that not everyone is capable of doing the same. That's their problem though, not mine and my pointing out there is an alternative that some people might consider is hardly a troll NewbE.
Then there's suze, who can't even figure out who a comment is directed at. Not likely to move to the leisure class any time soon.
Feb 19th, 2014, 01:27 PM
#34
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To quote Dulcie "There are two kinds of people in the world (in terms of this issue). Those who work for money and those who do not need to do so. Otherwise known as the working class and the leisure class."
That's rubbish. There are also people who choose to work because of the satisfaction that their work gives them. Maybe it is the connection to co-workers, the satisfaction of a job well done, making a contribution to society, healing a sick person, the list is endless.
Sure, they get paid for doing a job, but the pay is not the main thing in every case. Dulcie bleats endlessly about his life style, heading off travelling at the drop of a hat, giving up work when he was aged 45 (and he is aged 67 now), whatever.
Fortunately the world is not overpopulated with people such as he.
That's rubbish. There are also people who choose to work because of the satisfaction that their work gives them. Maybe it is the connection to co-workers, the satisfaction of a job well done, making a contribution to society, healing a sick person, the list is endless.
Sure, they get paid for doing a job, but the pay is not the main thing in every case. Dulcie bleats endlessly about his life style, heading off travelling at the drop of a hat, giving up work when he was aged 45 (and he is aged 67 now), whatever.
Fortunately the world is not overpopulated with people such as he.
Feb 19th, 2014, 08:55 PM
#38
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Assuming Dulcie's lifestyle is not a fabrication-- or even if it is--I'd guess most people would like it; after all, being a complete twat about it is not a prerequisite of early retirement. The notion that reading his posts might get you to nirvana is a bigger leap, given the fabrication issue and the twattiness.
But slagging with a person who hijacks a thread to stir up class resentment--aka, a troll--is the height of lunacy, which is saying a lot in a thread that recommends laxatives for pre-travel prep.
But slagging with a person who hijacks a thread to stir up class resentment--aka, a troll--is the height of lunacy, which is saying a lot in a thread that recommends laxatives for pre-travel prep.
Feb 19th, 2014, 09:55 PM
#39
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Esme_Travels wrote: "anyegr: Am assuming you're a guy, not single. As a single woman, I do want to look my best before a trip (or when I'm not traveling). For solo travelers, trips are opportunities to meet new people." - end quote
Actually, I am female. And single. But I'm not travelling to meet new people. I'm travelling to see different places and have some fun.
Actually, I am female. And single. But I'm not travelling to meet new people. I'm travelling to see different places and have some fun.
Feb 20th, 2014, 08:03 AM
#40
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FWIW, I usually get a haircut and my nails done before a trip, although it does depend on the type of trip. For a beach vacation, I might get a wax; TMI perhaps! But my point is that this doesn't sound so bizarre to me. Kind of like packing one's favorite clothes--it all contributes to having some fun, no?
