California Love

So instead of doing another general life goal list for this year, I decided to make a list of things that we (I) want to do while we're living in California.  Some of them are local to San Diego and some of them extend to the south western portion of America, some are touristy and some are unique, but they're all things I want to do in the next 3-4 years.

In no particular order, here is my list.

1. Hike to the Hollywood sign (or as close as we can get without being arrested)
2. Camp at Big Bear Lake
3. Visit Mexico
4. San Diego Zoo
5. Redwood Forest
6. Overnight hike part of the PCT
7. Learn to Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP)
8. Napa Valley
9. Yosemite
10. Hike to Cedar Creek Falls
11. La Jolla seacaves
12. Carlsbad Flower Festival
13. Children's Pool/Seal beach
14. Point Loma tide pools
15. La Jolla cliff/coast walk
16. Salvation Mountain
17. Watts Towers
18. Salton Sea
19. Nazi Camp
20. Hike at Torrey Pines
21. Hollywood walk of fame
22. Ride the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
23. Ride the Marvin Braude Bike Trail (Santa Monica Pier & Venice beach)
24. Grand Canyon
25. Slots Canyons of Anza Borrego Desert State Park
26. Sand sculpture competition
27. Sunbathe on the beaches of the Hotel del Coronado
28. Take a surfing lesson
29. ?
30. ?

Have you done any of these?  What would you scratch off this list, or what would you add?

PCS Progress

Orders? Check!

Plane tickets? Check!

Buster's plane reservation? Check!
Hotel reservations? Check!

Housing pre-inspection? Check!

Housing inspection? Scheduled!

HHG pre-inspection? Check!

HHG pick-up? Scheduled!

UB pick-up? Scheduled!

Find someone to buy our car? Check!

Have car inspected (so we can sell it)? Check!

Make repairs to that the car passes inspection? Scheduled!
Etc., etc., etc...

I've talked about this before, I'm a list maker.  Over the years I've learned the importance of making lists.   They help me stay focused and on track and prevent my lack of a memory from destroying my well laid out plans.  For this PCS/ETS, I currently have about 9 or 10 lists that I'm tracking.  Some of them include: pcs check list (part of which is seen above), expenses (things we're going to have to buy once we arrive in San Diego), things to sell, unaccompanied baggage, household goods  and things to pack in our suitcases/not let the packers pack.  Keeping these lists allow me to monitor our progress.  They are constantly being amended and grow as each day passes.

My best friend here is leaving at the same time we are (9 days before us) and we were discussing the lack of guidance we've found when it comes to PCS'ing.  We kept searching for a "suggested list" of items to pack in each of our shipments and on our person when we travel.  We were unable to come up with any so I decided to share with you what we came up with. (Jessica from Jessica Lynn Writes shared her list earlier this week.  Her's includes lots of suggestions if you're traveling with children.)

For our fast shipment, or unaccompanied baggage (UB) as the Army calls it:

*air mattress (if not carrying in your suitcase)
*1 set of sheets/blanket/pillows

*1 set of bath towels/bath mats (we take the ones from our guest bathroom)

*shower curtain

*professional gear (for family members)

*camping chairs/something to sit on until your furniture arrives & a folding table

*kitchen supplies to include cookie sheets, crock pot, pots/pans, knives, spices, Tupperware, and dishes/utensils.

*weather appropriate clothing for your destination
*hangers
*laundry basket

*shoes that you won't be traveling with

*games/DVD's/books (not all of them, just a small selection)
*EMPTY trash can
*computer
*first aid kit
*apron
*hammer/screw driver
*can opener

My personal list includes:

*tent/camping gear

*rice cooker

*our bicycles

*design magazines (I cannot wait to decorate our new home)

*a box fan (our place in SD may or may not have AC)

*grocery bags

Anything you would add to this list?  I'd love to hear your suggestions!  I hope some of you find this information useful.  It's not all encompassing but I think it's a good starting base.

I can't leave you guys without a photo so here's one of the husband and I at a ceremony this week...I have no idea why I'm looking at him that way but it made me chuckle...what do you think is going through my head in this moment?