So tomorrow is the big day. It's been 33 days since we sold the house and hit the road on our Goodbye Tour. We've been to New York and back to Simsbury, to Virginia, Rhode Island, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Boston, Maine, plus three separate trips to Amherst. We put about about 3500 miles on the car, which we sold today to my brother and sister-in-law. Now there's nothing but us and our luggage.

All ready at the airport hotel.

Imagine picking up everything you own and deciding whether or not to take it with you for the next two years (or more) halfway around the world. The other options are to get rid of it or pay to store it. And in the end it all has to fit into 4 suitcases, 2 carry-ons, a purse and a briefcase. 

I did "cheat" a little and packed one box with cool-weather clothes, a couple blankets and a handful of books plus a second box with weaving/knitting/sewing supplies. Those boxes are taking the slow boat and should arrive by the middle of October. By then I imagine I'll be looking for a distraction from the culture shock.

Our plane leaves tomorrow from Bradley to Newark at 10 am. Then we head to Hong Kong (16 hours in the air!) and a final hop to Kaohsiung. We are due to arrive just before midnight Thursday night, Taiwan time. From Bradley Airport to the Kaohsiung airport it should take 25 hours. Then 9 hours after we land the taxi picks us up to start our new faculty orientation. I think we may be too busy to be tired.