I’m working 12 nights and switching between days and nights 7 times this month. I have lists upon lists of things to do before we depart. We don’t yet have a renter to cover our goliath mortgage and both of our cars need new tires (including my 20″ low profile tires that come in at $400 a piece).  I have three major outdoor projects to complete and if I don’t finish my coursework for my Fellowship in Wilderness Medicine in the next 8 days I’ll loose three years of work.  More immediately, I can’t decide whether to buy a cake for a dinner party we are going to tonight or to make Flan (they are serving paella).

I have all sorts of first world problems!

There have been some small successes. We have rented a charming apartment in Paris on August 1 for 5 days. It is a short walk to the Louvre and there is a Vélib’ bicycle station just outside the front door. The last time Samantha and I were in Paris we rode an estimated 200 miles on the quirky Vélib’ bikes.

We have also rented a Mercedes Marco Polo Westfalia Campervan from August 10 to November 10th.  The vehicle will cost $54 dollars a day and hopefully allow us to camp for free on most days.