Started making reservations part II

I wanted to add that we didn't make reservations last time (driving from Florida to Alaska) and it worked out fine-- but we did waste some time every evening driving around looking for a place, checking prices, etc. With a toddler in tow this time, we're just going to want to get out of the car asap. Now, although having reservations forces us to drive a certain set distance every day, when we arrive at our day's destination we can get settled in right away. Plus, planning ahead allows us to find some cute local off-the-beaten-path places, rather than going with motel or hotel chains every time.

Started making reservations...

We started making hotel reservations tonight. So far, we've got reservations at B&Bs in Tok, AK and Stewart Crossing, Yukon. That's two down, plenty to go.

Actually, we realized that after we get out of Yellowstone, we'll be in much more populous regions. Once we start traveling through the U.S., there should be more varieties of hotels available, and we can just pull over and grab a hotel instead of needing a reservation.

Countdown: less than two months!

It just hit me that our move-- and by move I mean the day we start driving-- is in less than two months. It's hard to believe the PCS is coming up so fast. I'm sure the reality will hit once we get home in a week and a half. Right now, we're focused on tying up loose ends here in D.C. before we go home-- the thought that we'll be moving again seems impossible!

FGMO!

In military lingo, that's "Finally Got My Orders." They came in today, so now I can start outprocessing and making appointments. I also need to get a copy to my landlord; the Servicemember's Civil Relief Act lets me break my lease as long as I give him 30 days notice with my orders.

In other good news, I arranged to have my last day in Virginia to be 4 June. That's a week longer than I'd prefer, but a week less than they originally asked.

New Military PCS Site

I see that DoD has started a new PCS-oriented website called "Plan My Move." It's interesting: you provide it your current duty station, your reassignment station, and your planned date of departure, and it gives you a personalized calendar with the dates of when you should be doing everything.

I gave it a shot, and found that I'm already behind on a number of things. Eeek!

Confirmed date to go back to Alaska...

I just booked tickets for Kiersten and I to return to Alaska at the beginning of June. Whether Adam will be accompanying us or coming later, we aren't sure yet. When we arrive, we'll have just under seven weeks to get everything ready for the move-- and hopefully will have time to throw in a little bit of Alaska traveling (we thought we'd have another year to see the state!). It's going to be one jam-packed summer!

It's May

...meaning we're down to three months before the move.

Actually, since we plan to leave Alaska around 22 July, that puts us at two-and-three-quarters months before the move.

That checklist hasn't moved. Scary!