We're moving!

Well, things are moving - literally! I moved out of my apartment in Russian Hill into a great studio sublet in Nob Hill. The girl who lives in it is in India for three months during the exact time I need the place, so it was a great find. I've also asked her to take some good mental notes of Mumbai for me!

I definitely consider the sublet a major part of the trip planning, because if I wasn't embarking on this journey in a few months, I would have probably stayed in my Russian Hill place and found a new roommate when Lindsay (my awesome roomie until a few days ago!) moved to NYC. It also meant that I had to do a whole lot of downsizing, as the place I'm in is furnished, but I think that's a great thing because I would have had to do it eventually. Now I really just have my essentials, which I think I can pare down even further once I don't need my work clothes anymore....aaaaah...sorry, was just thinking about the day when I WON'T NEED MY WORK CLOTHES ANYMORE!

(If you're wondering what I did with my stuff, I gave a lot to Goodwill, gave some away to friends, sold the furniture, mailed things to my sister and, um, left a bunch on a park bench...)

Anyway, I'm super comfortable in my new place, and it's great to have my own spot to lay out all my bits and bobs that I need for planning - travel books, notes, magazines, etc. I've now determined all the countries for which I need a visa and what vaccinations I need for everywhere I'm going. Oh and how much I need to spend on these things - several hundred bones all told. Oh well, less expensive than getting treatment for one the many fevers on offer in Africa and Asia - dengue, yellow, and the like.

So, what's next? Visas, some initial accommodations, especially for the summer parts of the trip to make sure I get good deals at good places. The broseph is also doing some research on excursions and whatnot - safaris, boat cruises, hikes up Kilimanjaro (ha!).

So, we're moving!