What am I forgetting to do before I leave home for 4 months?

May 30, 2006 1:00 PM

I'm leaving for Alaska for 4 months tomorrow. What am I forgetting to do before I go?

I've set up on-line bill pay to take care of the bills I'll have while I'm gone. I've got addresses of friends and family so I can send them letters. I'm (mostly) packed. I've left contact info in all the right places in case people come a-lookin' for me, and will turn on the vacation auto-responder in case people come a-emailin'.

But I can't shake this feeling like I've forgotten to do something. Any ideas what is that I've forgotten?

The only contact I have with the outside world once I leave is through mail that I get once a week, which is why I'm so concerned about taking care of business before I leave.

posted by joshuaconner to work & money (22 comments total)

If travelling through Canada: getting your passport. (Not strictly necessary, yet, but still will make border crossings much smoother.)
posted by joannemerriam at 1:08 PM on May 30, 2006

Thankfully (since I don't think I could get a passport by tomorrow!) I'm not.
posted by joshuaconner at 1:10 PM on May 30, 2006

Might be obvious, but you didn't mention where your paper mail will be kept/forwarded to.
posted by vacapinta at 1:11 PM on May 30, 2006

Clean out your coffee maker and close the lids on your toilets.
posted by MrMoonPie at 1:13 PM on May 30, 2006

turn off the coffemaker.

take the 800#s of any companies (credit card, etc) you are auto-paying, and your bank. If you unexpectedly find yourself near a pay phone, you can phone in and make sure your autopay is working.
posted by mikepop at 1:16 PM on May 30, 2006

unplug everything you can. A unplugged TV will actually save you a lot of money. Also, leave the cat a LOT of food.
posted by luriete at 1:23 PM on May 30, 2006

For four months, the house should be completely spotless, especially the kitchen. Next to nothing in the fridge, and nothing but the hardiest dry-goods in the pantry. If bugs or mice get even the tiniest toe-hold, it will not be a fun home to come back to.

Unplug everything that isn't essential, lock windows, close blinds.

Even if you don't have a housesitter, someone should peek in every week or two.

(Of course, if you have roommates or something this is all irrelevant.)
posted by miagaille at 1:27 PM on May 30, 2006

unplug everything you can. A unplugged TV will actually save you a lot of money

And don't forget those innocent-looking AC adapters. They may not be connected to anything, but those suckers are drawing power!
posted by vacapinta at 1:30 PM on May 30, 2006

Change your voicemail message, at least, or make some other away-from-phone arrangements.
posted by miagaille at 1:34 PM on May 30, 2006

Also, leave the cat a LOT of food.

I hope this is a joke. You made no mention of a cat, but if you have pets, I sure hope someone is coming to take care of them.

Do you have plants?

Draw the shades to keep your house cool.

What will happen with snail mail you receive at your house/apt? Have you arranged for someone to pick this up?
posted by cahlers at 1:35 PM on May 30, 2006

I put all of my stuff in storage, and am forwarding my mail to my place of work in Alaska.
posted by joshuaconner at 1:37 PM on May 30, 2006

If you're planning on using credit or debit cards, it may be worth calling the companies and letting them know you'll be in Alaska for the next four months, so they don't see a bunch of weird charges and put a hold on your account.

Do you have all the addresses and phone numbers you'll need when you first arrive?
posted by occhiblu at 1:41 PM on May 30, 2006

Be sure to turn off the water to your washing machine.
posted by karmaville at 1:54 PM on May 30, 2006

Folks...he just said he put all his stuff in storage.
posted by vacapinta at 1:58 PM on May 30, 2006

Even the house ninja?
posted by dersins at 2:02 PM on May 30, 2006

• Take out some cash for travel incidentals.
• Back up your data, and consider taking a backup with you.
• Buy a calling card - even a $10 card may help you out in the airport in a pinch.
• Purchase any toiletries/home comforts that you would not want to do without (ie - anything that may be expensive to ship, hard to find in a small place, and/or you have a brand affinity to a local version of said product) and bring them with you.
• Ensure that important documents (insurance, passport, vehicle/property title, etc) are either coming with you or are in a safe place, such as a safe deposit box.
• Make sure you have a paper copy of your job offer and housing arrangements.
• I hope you don't have a car (if you do, you should have already made arrangements for somebody to start it or drive it once in a while, or to store it appropriately).
• Deal with prescription medication (get a four month supply and carry a doctor's note) if applicable.
• Last meal: consider it carefully and make it a good one.

posted by crazycanuck at 2:04 PM on May 30, 2006

I was kidding about the cat.
posted by luriete at 3:26 PM on May 30, 2006

When you say "in storage", I imagine one of those U-Stor-It places. Where will you keep the key to that place? If you're leaving it with a friend, does the friend have a safe spot for it where it won't get lost or stolen?

If you are leaving your stuff with someone else, will their homeowner's or rental insurance cover your stuff too (especially if you're leaving expensive things like your computer), if something bad should happen?

If you have a car, arrange for someone to drive it around the block every few weeks or so. And remember to clean all the french fries and dried up latte drips from the interior, or you will have a fine-smelling auto when you return.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 4:51 PM on May 30, 2006

I don't know where your mail is being delivered to, but make sure you have a neighbor collect any junk mail, newspapers, etc that may pile up in your mailbox or front step so they don't pile up and alert someone in the process that no one is home.
posted by Juggermatt at 5:09 PM on May 30, 2006

Sold my car, and my parents have my keys to things. I moved out of the apartment I was living in, and am moving into a house with some friends when I come back. crazycanuck, the calling card and copy of the job offer are excellent ideas, thank you!

And thanks to everyone; I'm feeling better prepared every minute.

And I'm bringing the house Ninja with me. He's going to keep up his training by wrestling sleuths of bears.
posted by joshuaconner at 5:12 PM on May 30, 2006

Chill on the front porch with some coffee in the morning? Saying goodbye to the place is something I always wish I'd left time for.
posted by salvia at 11:26 PM on May 30, 2006

Let's see, if your time in Alaska is going to be anything like mine was, I suggest that you have sex before you go. Cuz it wasn't happening when I was there.
posted by Dunwitty at 12:24 AM on May 31, 2006