The Unknown

Our bags are packed, the refrigerator is empty and Charlie’s head is freshly shaved. We’ve been vaccinated for typhoid, had our dental cleanings (and one filling – that would be me) and filled our prescriptions for malaria, traveler’s tummy, and migraines. Our picture frames, books and personal items are in boxes stacked high in the closet, and half of my clothes have been donated. The garage is cleaned out, and Charlie’s office is now a storage room of Colorado essentials: bikes, snowboards, snowshoes, camping gear, hiking poles and baskets of sunscreen. Charlie did his last hot yoga class yesterday, and I’m about to use up my last spin class. Lastly, my plants are watered and ready for their foster home at Uncle Phil’s.

Those are the small details. We’ve also re-arranged our work lives, finances, and traveled to spend time with loved ones. I’ve had to accept missing the holidays with family and the birth of my second nephew. For the past 3 months, we’ve committed time each week (daily for Charlie) to Spanish class and practicing on our own. Preparing to leave the country for five months has already been a huge undertaking. It’s also the biggest project we’ve tackled as a couple, and let’s just say, our individual planning styles have really shown themselves.

I knew Charlie was a planner from the start; it’s one of the things that attracted me most. He takes care of business like nobody’s business. There are zero unfinished projects around the house, or in his life for that matter. Once he decides to proceed with an idea, it’s as good as done. I’ve never seen anyone (other than my mother) maximize progress so efficiently, and seemingly without ever getting tired. While it makes my head spin, I know how lucky I am, and I love knowing our Peru-prep bases have been thoroughly covered.

My style is, well, different. I’m not wired for machine-like productivity. For me, it’s all about conserving energy to use in big bursts, while maintaining a state of low-stress for as long as possible. I do things best when it’s time to do them, and I trust my internal guidance system to alert me when it’s time to act. Needless to say, our different paces can lead to conflict, but he knows if I say I’ll do something, it will get done. We respect each other in that way, and planning for Peru has only reinforced our mutual trust.