Pre-"launch"

From Dave:   So, here we are on the very first page of our Australia trip.  Don't worry... we are still a couple of days from "launch."  Now is the time for washing clothes, locating all the bags, tags, electrical adapters, chargers, passports and meds... don't forget the meds!!!  (We older folks do love our drugs... hehe.)  We are staging everything in a "spare" room... the one where I work on old computers and income taxes, store stuff (we often call it the "throw room" as in, "Just throw it in there, Becky."), and even sleep the occasional guest(s) if we can find enough space to flatten out the futon.

With my retirement from full time active ministry in the Presbyterian Church USA we've had a fairly steady stream of guests.  These last three months have been busy-building-to-exhaustion.  Someone recently asked me if things were "winding down."  Didn't happen.  When the clock ran out I still had a couple more people I wanted to see once more.  I guess when you're done, you're done.  It is a good thing Becky and I scheduled a couple of days off-island to celebrate our 39th wedding anniversary or I'd still be trying to squeeze things in.  Those two days away were the deadline... end of work... period... drop-off-the-keys-and-close-the-door-behind-you time.  Sad.  Glad.  Good.  Bad.  All the emotions one might expect and more.  Great memories and friends... a life-time full.

Now we are looking ahead, hustling to pack and prep at the same time for good friends who are house-sitting for us.  Much more to come . . .

 Here's a pic of son, Joel, and daughter-in-law, Sarabeth, along with Becky overlooking a favorite spot on our island home.  We had a great time together as they were here for my retirement festivities.