Life Planning: What to Do Before You Travel
Plan Ahead to Get Your Kicks on Route 66
In February when the winter weather has become unbearable, my husband and I get away to somewhere warm. But the spring and fall months are our favorite time to take a road trip. After a visit to Kingman, AZ and the Grand Canyon in 2000, the ultimate road trip idea was planted in our minds – Route 66.
Over the next couple of years, we conducted extensive research on the old road, finally taking the trip in 2003. We packed ourselves, our two Newfoundland dogs, clothes, gear, food, and guide books tightly into our trusty Jeep Cherokee and hit the road. We made the decision not to put a schedule together and not to make hotel arrangements; choosing to take the trip at a leisurely pace. We had a start date, a return date, and a list of places we wanted to see. The trip lasted two weeks.
All these years later and despite some terrific vacations, this is still the best trip of my life. It took a couple of days, but we realized that having no schedule and nowhere in particular to be meant complete freedom and a relaxed state of mind.
Of course any road trip requires planning, such as:
- Travel arrangements (what route to take, and/or where to stay)
- What to pack (don’t forget an emergency kit and fun activities for the kids)
- Who to notify (family, neighbors)
- Making arrangements for the mail and other deliveries
- Making sure all bills are paid current before you leave
- Notifying your bank and credit card companies of your travel plans
- Securing your home
- Arranging for the care of the family pet
- Performing vehicle maintenance so that it’s in good working order
Vacations are exciting, and no one expects anything bad to happen. But because you just never know, it’s important to have an emergency plan. In case of an emergency, make two copies of your identification, credit cards and other travel documents. Leave one copy with a friend or relative at home and bring the other copy with you. Also, it’s a good idea to let someone know your exact travel itinerary.
When we took our Route 66 trip in 2003, we had a mobile phone but the roaming charges meant we only planned to use it an emergency, so we called home from a pay phone using a prepaid phone card to check-in on everyone and make sure the house was still standing. There was no technology that allowed us to have and share important information, so we traveled with papers and hoped for the best.
Keeping your My Life & Wishes account up-to-date with your family, friends, and professional contacts, health care providers and other health information, financial account information, and more will provide you with peace-of-mind. With everything you need to do before a trip, it’s easy to forget some things. But having all your important life information securely at your fingertips means you have access to all the information you may need in the event of an emergency. And, you can provide trusted friends and/or family members with access to sections of your account while you are away.
Visit our Planning Center to learn more about end-of-life planning and to get started.