NEW ZEALAND--OCTOBER 2013

I have got to do something about this damn computer!  It has several things wrong with it that wouldn’t take more than a few minutes for a technician to fix.  It also no longer charges its battery so it has lost its portability.  At the moment that is okay—I am not going anywhere.  What is not okay is that every time I push or bump it shuts down.  I guess if it was more than an aggravation I would probably either buy another or get it fixed.  Actually I am probably closer to getting a new one than fixing this one.  I just don’t want to put out the $400.00 a new one will cost.  I also don’t really want to buy a new one yet because in just under two years I will be getting on a plane with Ray and heading for New Zealand. 

Now there is a subject to write a few hundred words on!  We are both getting really excited about the idea of going over there.  From past experience I know that it takes a minimum of a year to prepare for something like this.  We are now officially in preparation mode.  Ray wants to have WRITTEN IN STONE in the can, possibly e published.  That is a huge goal for him and Suraya manages to keep his shoes nailed to the floor when he gets impatient.  So by the time we leave he will be into another project.  I am not sure what but he has a story cooking about the Knights of St. John on Malta. 

As for me, I have several projects that have to be wrapped up before we can leave.  First and foremost, I need to retire from Civil Service.  I need to wrap up this whole working thing and let go of the health care professions.  I really don’t see that as a problem for several reasons.  I have done it before, well sorta.  I have always managed to go back to it in a financial pinch.  Hence my current job.  Health care is a natural place for me to be in this life.  So is teaching, so it would not surprise me if I ended up going back as a volunteer in some form.  I guess I just have not got a good grasp on “retirement” yet. 

Now that is a strange thing to call the next phase of my life.  I certainly will not retire in the classical sense.  It will be more like starting a new career/life work.  I am committed to finally writing my book(s) and work on my list of “PLACES TO SEE BEFORE I DIE.”  In that sense, New Zealand is simply the next door I will open.  It really surprised me how easy it was to convince Ray to travel “Mrellan style.”  That is, go there for two years at a time.

So about New Zealand…. Since it is my plan to go there as a working vacation I have to set up the work part.  Yesterday I decided to re-write all the prep for the book(s), THE HARP, THE PEN & THE SWORD.  It appears that my most major project for the next two years will be to do this prep.  I want to make this the most complete prep I have ever done.  I want to go into the actual writing of these books with a very strong knowledge of everything that will make up that story.  I want to be in a position where all I will really need to do is start writing the words and the first draft will just flow from my brain to my computer. 

It occurs to me that there are probably a couple other thing that will be a part of prepping for NZ.  There are several pieces of electronics I would like to get.  Maybe the first thing to work on is the high power lenses for our camera.  That is a fast way to drop a cool grand!  Since a lens is something that will not out date it would probably be a good idea to get it first.  Shortly before we leave we will need to buy new laptops and new phones.   I fully expect that in two years cell phones will be completely international.  Electronics are known to be cheaper in the USA so we will probably buy everything here before we leave.  We will also need to look into the need for new CPAPS.  At least Raymond should have a new one.  My insulin pump will also be nearly three years old, I have no idea what that will mean to that pump. 

On Thanksgiving we watched IRONMAN 2.  They used holographic computer images in the movie.  I know that is the future of computers because it already exists.  I wonder how soon they will be on the market.  Wow, it is easy to go off on a tangent when you start talking electronics.  The bottom line for now is what we will be taking to New Zealand with us. 

This puts in mind the question, what else will we need to buy that will be a major planned for expense.  Both of us need new luggage at approximately $200.00 a pop if we get it on sale.  Of course we will also both need to be taking new or nearly new clothes because clothes are outrageous in NZ compare to what we pay.  And the beat goes on!  I guess I just talked myself into another list.