Get Your Ducks In A Row...

One thing I learned from Dad..."get your ducks in a row," and that's exactly what this post is all about.

With our children grown, families of their own, you'd think we would have updated our will since they were younger right...wrong.  So now is the time to get our ducks in a row!

We have used the same attorney for many years to handle real estate settlements.  Previously we discussed with him obtaining a will.  Well...I'm sure he would do a tremendous job in the preparation of our Will and charge five hundred dollars, if not more for this great honor.

Several Will Maker computer packages from your local Staples store, Office Depot, or applications online are available for purchase.  We opted to use the same form I had used several years ago for someone else and thus began the process of preparing a Will for Wayne and myself.  Seems an easy task to undertake, but there really is so much to think about when you are the one deciding how your estate should be handled, and will be relying on a chosen individual to carry out the task.  After researching current Will and Estate laws in Virginia on the internet, our decisions were somewhat clear.

One great suggestion is to keep things simple.  You really can get too wordy and in doing so, open a whole new can of worms.  Be precise and accurate with your bequeaths and inheritances.  If there is something special you want to say to someone, write them a personal note.

In addition to the will itself, we prepared a form which detailed all of our current financial information, with account numbers, contact numbers, loan amounts, payoffs, insurance company accounts with numbers and contacts...well you get the idea.  My suggestion is to make a separate list for: banks, insurance companies, personal accounts, household accounts, etc.  This enables the Executor of your Will to have all the current information available.

Once the Will was completed, Wayne and I went to our bank where the Will was witnessed by two individuals and also stamped and sealed by the Bank Notary.



Now I certainly plan on Wayne and I returning home and if the Good Lord deems it so, live on to see our beautiful Grandchildren grow to become adults.  But just in case...

Baggage Regulations, Packing, Check and Recheck!

Sure has been a while since I've flown, 1979, and boy have things changed.  There are a lot of regulations concerning baggage and the items you can pack, especially in your carry-on bag.

Due to the ever changing security issues in the US and abroad, TSA has enhanced their security in Airports for the safety of passengers and their luggage.  Let's keep in mind and appreciate that what they are asking us to do is really not unreasonable.  Really...well gee all you have to do is:  remove your shoes, walk through the detectors, they pat you down, and next...you hold up your arms in front of the camera and say cheese!  Everyone is rushing through this procedure, so now move quickly to retrieve your carry-on bag, slip your shoes back on, and thank the kind folks for the thrill of the experience.

  Check with your airlines for a copy of the regulations and follow them correctly to save time and inconvenience at the airport.

All passsengers should arrive at the airport one to two hours earlier than their flight is scheduled to depart.  Make sure that all gels, liquids or aerosol items packed in your carry-on luggage are in accordance with TSA requirements.
 

Personal items should be 3.4 ounces or less and placed in a clear plastic zip-top baggie, packed in the top of your carry-on bag.

 

 

Our airline, United Airlines, have their own policies in addition to the TSA requirements.  United permits one carry-on bag plus one personal item carried onto the aircraft.

 

The maximum linear measurement of carry-on bags is 14" X 9" X 22". 

 

All carry-on bags have to be stowed under the seat in front of you or placed in the overhead storage compartment.

Personal items consist of: shoulder bag, backpack, laptop bag. 

Coats, umbrellas, camera, diaper bags are not considered your personal items and may be brought on board.

Included in the price of our ticket, we were allowed to check one large piece of luggage, with the weight not to exceed 50 lbs.  If you exceed the weight limit, be prepared to remove some items, place them in your carry-on bag, or purchase another bag.  Each additional checked bag is an additional fee of $100.00.  Hint here: weigh your bags at home!

Here's a tip:  Verify the current weather and forecasted weather during your stay and pack accordingly.  Remember though, weather, well it's crazy, so pack lightly, but pack so you will be able to dress in layers.  Don't forget to purchase a rain poncho at the Dollar Store and stow in your carry-on bag.


When Are We Going To Go... How Are We Going To Get There??

First we needed to determine just how long were we going to be able to get away for.  One week?  Good grief...if you are going to travel all the way to Ireland and it costs quite a bit to travel there, might as well go for at least two weeks.  Oh heck, we're gonna make it three.  Really...can we get away for three weeks?  Ok ...throw caution to the wind...Absolutely!!!

Our friends, Jerry and Olga, were leaving in April and would be arriving in France before taking a ferry to Ireland.  As much as we would liked to have left with them in April, that just wasn't in the cards for us. Wayne and I had never in our thirty-four years  together had ever taken more than one week of vacation, let alone three.  I felt lucky and blessed for sure to be taking a three week vacation.  A three week vacation to Ireland...Oh Happy Days!! 

We wanted to be able to spend as much time in Ireland as possible, so we decided to fly.  Jerry had arranged a "house trade" with someone who lived in Clonakilty, Ireland.  This would be our "Home Base" for a bit.  Now back in April of 1979, I travelled to England and Germany for work. The weather in April was really quite chilly...actually down right cold so we decided to meet the Hills in May.

In January, I began researching for airflights to Ireland in early May and came up with several options.  The cheaper flights were transfers, once...maybe twice and this would take us 10 to 15 hours to arrive in Dublin. Wayne quickly decided to fly non-stop to Dublin, even if the flight was two hundred dollars more, we'd have a shorter flight, less chance of baggage loss and fewer worries.  Now here's some great advice...plan your trip and book flights early.  Each day the price of the flight increases.  I waited a few days to get my funds together and the flight went up slightly.  Finally...we were booked on United Flight 126 from Dulles Airport, non-stop to Dublin, Ireland, and our return flight booked as well.  Our flight was paid for.   Woo Hoo - this is becoming a reality now.

Money Money Money Money...MONEY!

Travelling abroad was presenting us with some choices regarding money.  The old fashioned way was to obtain traveller's checks.  Today there are several options: Credit Cards with the European chip, Travel Cards which you load a chosen amount of money on with a limited amount of reloads and charges by the bank.

The one we chose was a debit card from our bank.  The pros of this choice were: usage of our debit card at an ATM would be the same as in the US to obtain cash.  Dependent on the country you are in, you would receive cash in the currency of that country.  We could also use the card as a point of sale card. At the time of the sale, you decide if you want the sale to be , for example, Euros or US Dollars.

Another pro was if there were any issues regarding the card, we had a number 24/7 to contact our bank regarding our account.  We also gave the bank our itinerary so they'd have an idea if there were any fraudulent charges against our account.

 The cons were pretty much the same as in the US,  fees would be charged at each ATM for cash.  In addition though, there would also be a conversion rate charged for money i.e., Euros, Pounds, etc.

We figured you have to pay the conversion rate somewhere, so we might as well just go through the bank.

The best advice we can give is "go to your bank and discuss your travel plans with them.  They are prepared to advise you which choice will meet your needs best."