Cyberspace Death: What Happens After You Die?

We don't like to think about it. We don't want to talk about it. But it's a fact of life. We arent' getting out of it alive.

So what happens to the digital trails we leave behind? Bank accounts, Credit card accounts, Email? Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and all other social media outlets? Blogs, websites, tumblr? Shutterfly, SmugMug, Flickr and Picasa photos? Game sites, dating sites, video sites, support groups - we all leave a HUGE digital fingerprint behind us.

Here are some links to help figure out what you might need to do in preparation for that fateful day - today, tomorrow or years from now, we never know when.

1. How to Create an In-Case-of-Emergency Everything Document to Keep Your Loved Ones Informed if Worst Comes to Worst
2. Cyberspace When You're Dead
3. Your Digital Afterlife
4. 3 Important Reasons to Plan & Organize Your Digital Afterlife

It's a good idea to save this infographic below from WebpageFX:

Created by WebpageFX

We all need to take time to think this through, analyze our cyberspace life and plan for the future!

What did we bring?

updated May 15 2014

One of the most common questions from new expats is what to bring or conversely, what to buy in Ecuador. This is a very personal question and everyone's answer will be different. Since we lived in an RV in the US, we didn't have the furniture, appliances, antiques, paintings, collections, etc. that are important to many folks. We did our downsizing before we started our RV lifestyle.

So for us, the decision was more about what to bring that we COULDN'T or SHOULDN'T buy in Ecuador. There are many things available here but we had to judge the quality as well as the price for various items.

In our post "How did we move all our stuff?" we told you HOW we brought the things we chose. Now I'll try to outline WHAT we chose to bring and why.

We wanted things that would last the five years, be as lightweight but serviceable as possible and not cost an arm and a log. Since we have an Amazon Prime membership, most of our purchases have been from there, giving us the free two day shipping. [Click the blue names to see what we bought and the features.]

French Coffee Press
We got a small, single cup coffee press while in Cuenca. It was overpriced but we wanted to try it out AND we missed our morning coffee. It worked so we ordered a larger version, one that is also thermal. It makes 3 large (8 oz) or 4 small (6 oz) cups. So far we really like it.

UPDATE: we were gifted a glass large French Press from friends who were moving back to the US so we now have 3 of them. I would definitely bring one with you if you want to save a few dollars. That said, there are a decent variety of drip coffee makers here at reasonable prices.

SECOND UPDATE: We are using the stainless steel one in the mornings and the one cup in the evenings. The gifted one is put back for emergencies due to the screening material becoming sharp and thus harder to clean. Got me to thinking about the same material in the big one, contacted Thermos and we can order replacements for very little cost!

Coffee Grinder
Hard to make good coffee without a grinder for the fresh beans. We had a couple of requirements: removable cup for washing, choice of number of cups and coarseness, compact size and easy to use. We ordered this one and it's working great for us.

UPDATE: We were gifted a PROFESSIONAL grinder by Nesco from the same friends and this is the one we use. On our first visit we didn't see any electric grinders. Now that we've been here a while they do show up once in a while. If you can't wait, bring one. PS. This will come back to the US with us. We love it!

SECOND UPDATE: The big coffee grinder died. Stu took it apart, cleaned it and checked all the wires. Dead....not sure why but it was bought here and we have found small electrical appliances seem to be more cheaply made unless they are imported from the US and then they cost dearly!

Wok Set
Okay, this wasn't specifically for our move but it will go with us (as our biggest single kitchen item). Hubby loves to stir fry but missed having a wok. The price on this set was too good to resist. So we didn't...LOL!

UPDATE: We use this extensively, rice and fresh veggies are a staple here along with chicken. Perfect for stir frying. Only downside, good soy sauce is pricey. $6 for a small bottle of Kikkoman. We initially tried several cheaper brands but didn't like them.

Pots and Pans
You can get good stainless steel pans in Ecuador but they are very expensive. The alternative is cheap aluminum pans, not an option for us. We knew we needed a compromise between weight, price and quality. We ruled out anything with Teflon, opting for the newer (and hopefully safer/healthier) choice of ceramic. When we opened the box we were both impressed with these pans. I think they'll be a real favorite with both of us.

UPDATE: We both love these pans, they are working out quite well, cook evenly and clean up very easily. Since we don't plan to bring these back to the US, we might have to order a set for home.

Tableware
Another item where we wanted a slight upgrade from what was available in Ecuador but needed to compromise on weight and quality while watching cost. Oneida has always been a favorite brand and this set is going to work out well for us.

UPDATE: Another great buy. These feel good in your hands and we really like them. Yup, definitely may order a set for back in the US.

Knives
We aren't gourmet cooks and a simple but good brand knife set will suffice. Due to weight, we opted out of a larger set with a knife block. Stu likes J.A. Henckels brand so we got this nice three piece set.

UPDATE: Another gift from our friends, a couple more knives but not the quality of these. But they did also include a sharpener that get used frequently. The one thing we did add was a cleaver that was almost $30 for a decent one, not as good as this one by Henckels

Kitchen Utensils
The utensils here are either aluminum or way too flexible to realistically use. We bought this set and they have been perfect! The couple of things that came with our pots and pans (above) are "okay", these are much better.

UPDATE: What we didn't bring was any wooden spoons. Again, we were gifted a couple and they are readily available here in either pine or bamboo.

Electric Tea Kettle
The price on this was too good to pass up. We might have been able to get this in Ecuador but we never saw one in our store searches.

UPDATE: This ended up staying in the US, not because we didn't think we'd use it but because we simply ran out of room. Once again our friends saved us and the electric kettle from Hamilton Beach they gave us is MUCH better than the one shown above. Yup, will come back to the US - we wonder how we lived without one!

Plastic Containers
There is a TON of plastic ware to choose from here and it's very inexpensive. But it's flimsy and often the lids don't fit. We bought this set and use it extensively for fruits and veggie storage.

UPDATE: We use the local, cheaper ones for leftovers and non-food use.We have also bought several flip-top glass jars for storage and did find some hard-plastic, good quality canisters for cereal, rice, etc.

Cordless Phone Set
We already had this set for our RV when we are parked on our property in TN. It works wonderfully and the price was definitely right. So we ordered another set to bring to Ecuador with us. Initially we used it on the landline our landlord had installed. Now that we have our Ooma Telo box installed, we are using it on that and a basic corded phone on the other line. NOTE: a good Internet connection is required for good service with Ooma, MagicJack or other VoIP phone services.

We packed a few other kitchen items: measuring cups and spoons (since I wanted to be sure they were in the same measurements as my recipes), an oven thermometer, 2 silicone trivets/hotpads, lemon/lime squeezer, plastic mat cutting boards, oven mitts/potholders, table mats/napkins, a bedside size fan (for me), and probably a few other things I've forgotten. I brought my writing reference books, a couple copies of my first mystery and our books about Ecuador.

I also brought a floor steam mop and a small handheld vacuum (similar to a Dustbuster but corded) and both have been used a lot.

On a more personal note, I brought my small knitted teddy bear to sit on my nightstand. I brought a lot of costume jewelry, NO GOLD or gemstones of any value. We also brought two little, but high quality, speakers for music from our phones, iPods or computers.

Oh yeah. three laptops, two cameras, two iPods (and earbuds and headphones), several phones, two Kindle readers, one Kindle Fire, and two iPads (one air and one mini). Plus a variety of chargers and extra cords as well as one good surge protector for our TV and routers. We brought a Roku 3 streaming media player and an expensive router that was pre-configured to use with Strong VPN (allows us to see all US programming).

We brought clothes, LOTS of clothes, for all seasons. We packed light on the short-sleeved shirts and shorts but brought enough to enjoy the coast when we visit or when we take a cruise (and bathing suits). Most of our clothes were dressier than we normally wear daily in the US but we also brought our comfy clothes - sweats, old tees. Slippers are a must with cool tile floors and I brought some non-slip slipper socks and we both brought leather slippers with soles so we can use them outdoors if needed.. We brought extra underwear and socks as well as shoes, GOOD walking shoes are a must! Light rain jackets, an umbrella, hats (lots of hats) and a good backpack.

The one thing to remember with clothes is LAYERS...sleeveless is fine for the coast but not here in Cuenca unless you plan to use it for an under layer. We both brought fleece jackets, a couple of sweatshirts and a light jacket (okay, I brought two - one is leather with a hood) as well as fleece vests (which we use ALL the time).

I packed a plastic shoe box with my favorite pens, some small notebooks, stapler, scissors, tape dispenser, a few sticky-note pads, a couple of binder clips, rubber bands and paperclips. All are available here but I wanted to hit the ground running.

The other big thing we brought were sheets (queen since we knew that was the size bed we'd be getting) and towels (bath and kitchen). We also packed an alternative down comforter and an electric blanket. VERY glad we did! You can get good quality linens here but they are much more expensive than in the US!

UPDATE: We found a great buy on a used king bed that came with bedding. Well, the comforter works but not our colors and will be replaced by one brought back from the US. The sheets? Two sets - given away to a local. I told hubby it was a quality of life issue and went to Sukasa the next day to buy a good set of sheets. $180 but worth every penny! Our electric blanket just covers the top of the mattress, size wise, so it still works. We've picked up a nice set of used bedding for one of the guest rooms and our old bedding is in the other.

Hubby brought a 22" TV in his carry-on, it's now in our bedroom but not hooked up to anything. LOL!

So what have we bought since we've been here? Remember, we hadn't planned on an unfurnished place so I'll list the furniture first.

• 6 burner stove (new)
• Refrigerator (used)
• 40" TV (used)
• Living room furniture (two sets both used, sold the first set)
• Dining room table chairs (used, like new) 
• Living room rug
• Single+ guest bed (used but like new)
• Sheets to fit the used single+ guest bed (used but like new)
• Two queen mattresses (one still in plastic - both like new)
• Queen bed frames (one new - metal, one used but like new-wood)
• Two nightstands with drawers (new from Rotary market)
• Three side tables for nightstands (new from Rotary market)
• King bed including two nightstands with drawers (used but like new)
• Several queen blankets (used)
• Queen comforter and shams (used but like new)
• King size sheets (new)
• Four straight-back chairs, 2 in the kitchen and 2 in the office
• Two small desks with two drawers (new)
• Printer stand to match the desks (new)
• Printer stand for beside second desk (new from Rotary market)
• Assorted side tables for living room (new from Rotary market)
• Sofa slide-under table (new, custom made for us)
• Four wooden benches (new from Rotary market)

KITCHEN & MISC

• Blender
• Electric Frying Pan
• Crockpot (removable ceramic crock)
• Toaster
• Whisks (three different ones thus far)
• Chopper/Food scraper
• Heavier cutting boards
• Glass canister set
• Glass jars similar to canning jars with the metal-latch fasteners
• Misc dinnerware to match our used set we bought here
• Hard plastic canisters for storage
• Meat thermometer in Farenheit
• Tablecloth
• Fruit bowl
• Lamps
• Canister vacuum (used)
• Microwave (used)
• Brooms, mops, dust pan
• Alarm clock (battery backup)
• Extension cords
• Surge protectors for computers & other electronics
• Wicker laundry basket (we brought several large mesh laundry bags with us)
• Wall hangings and various decorations
• 2 stand fans, one space heater (used)

What have we had muled in to us that we found we needed or wanted/missed?

• A good blood pressure cuff
• A good backpack (choice here is low quality, high price) for daily use - Duluth Trading Post
• Cafe Vienna
• Mrs. Dash
• Decaf Earl Grey tea (decaf is NOT an option in teas here)
• Decaf dark roast coffee beans (decaf is here but not in beans or dark roast)
• Pillow protectors
• Flat sink stoppers for kitchen and utility room
• Sink strainers (mesh drop-in style)
• Small pocket planner (they all seem to be HUGE here)

What do we plan to bring back on our first visit home?

• Coffee scoops
• Pineapple cutter
• Apple corer
• Cherry pitter
• Fleece vests!!!!
• Lightweight backpack for me
• More long sleeve shirts for Stu
• A few more short sleeve shirts for me (layering)
• Vacuum seal containers
• More pillow protectors
• Small vacuum sealer
• Small label maker
• Small UPS for our routers (for those little 'blips' of power outage)
• Laser printer and spare toner cartridge (for printing my book draft copies)
• Knife block for a drawer
• Goo-gone (oh how I miss this, we never throw away glass jar here)
• My favorite Hawaiian Tropic lip balm
• Chico Sling bags - great for attaching to purse or belt to use for carrying loads home
• Motion sensor night lights - we brought a set of four but two died
• More decaf tea and dark roast coffee beans and Cafe Vienna, too!

Well, that pretty much covers it...please feel free to contact us with questions and we'll do our best to help!

How did we move all our stuff?

I know I've discussed this in various back posts but it was hit or miss. I keep getting questions about how we moved all our stuff and thought I'd put it all in one post.

At the Airport

Also, note that not everyone moves in suitcases like we did. Many folks ship pallets or shipping containers full of their stuff. Each person must make their own decisions about what is important to THEM. We had made an exploratory trip so had a general idea about what to bring other than clothes.

This is what flew with us on American Airlines, December 2013. We flew business class which gave us THREE FREE bags each! We paid $150 for each additional bag, thus our three extra bags cost us $450. Also, by flying business class we had a weight allowance of 70# each bag!

• FIVE plastic Sterilite footlockers purchased at Wal-Marts in our local area.. We initially thought we could make it with only four but as we continued packing things, five it was! We purchased luggage straps and put one on each one as well as a TSA approved lock with a flexible hasp.

• TWO large duffle bags:
  Kelty X-Large was used for Stu's scuba bag and gear
  
  
  Northstar Diamond Ripstop Nylon Duffle was used for all the last minute clothes from our cruise and two weeks on the road, visiting with family & friends
  
  
• TWO High Sierra Rolling Duffles
  

• TWO High Sierra Rolling Carry-ons (with removable backpacks)
  
  
  
• TWO Personal Carry-ons:
  Stu carried a laptop bag and I carried a tote-bag with my purse and other necessaries.

The next post will give more detail about what we packed in the above luggage!

Soon to be on our way!

Our To Do lists are shrinking...we've seen a local attorney and gotten our wills updated, filled out and had our Five Wishes notarized (Don't know what that is? You should, everyone should!) All the vehicles are ready to store, insurance has been notified, etc, etc, etc....

We're 90% packed, down to Stu's getting the last of his clothes out (after the last load of laundry). Coming to Ecuador will be 5 Sterilite footlockers, large bag with Stu's scuba gear, two large suitcases, two carry-ons and us. Phew! In addition, we have two additional bags with cruise gear which we hope to move into one of the trunks when we get back from our cruise.

We got news that our mattresses were delivered, nice to be able to make friends and work from a distance. We've looked at a couple other sales but nothing has really clicked. The good thing is we're not in any rush. We have a completely furnished apartment until Jan 12th. That gives us a month to get the rest of what we minimally need.

• Refrigerator - not looking at a big side by side, just a step up from basic will do fine.
• Stove - must have an oven! Most are 6 burner so that will be a treat, unless we find a good 4 burner.
• Living room sofa and tables
• Dining room set
• Queen bed frame for our bedroom
• Two nightstands

We continue to watch the used ads online and know we'll do just fine once we're there. Heck, we already have something to sleep on!

On a side note, I'm thinking about adding a couple of tabs with the most commonly asked questions about our move and Ecuador. Got anything you'd like to see there?

Getting closer!

It's been a busy week as we both plow through our To Do lists. For once, they seem to be shrinking rather than growing. We've pinned down the router we need, made an appointment with a local attorney to get our wills redone here in Tennessee, arranged for a shipping company so we can order small items and have them shipped to us in Ecuador and much, much more.

Every day I watch Gringo Tree and Gringo Post for buys on furniture and appliances. We lucked into two queen mattresses, one is a month old, the other is eight months old. We got them both for less than we had budgeted for one!

Stu's vest from Scottevest arrived and it fits him perfectly! He also got the storage box for his Go Pro Hero camera and the HDMI cables we'll need to hook up our new router and Roku 3 box.

A lot of folks have told us that they have recently used the Sterilite foot lockers like we bought so we are now thinking about going back to that plan, and carrying the fold-up rolling duffles as a backup (and for muling stuff back on our first US trip. While working through this it's become obvious to me that we're already packing too much stuff (even using space/compression bags)...and Stu hasn't even packed yet. Yipes! We're going to need 8 bags rather than 7, or we have to cull a lot of stuff out. Hmmmm....decisions....will update you on the result.

Not sure if I mentioned it before (so forgive me if I did) - Stu's youngest daughter is expecting her first in early June. Since we bought round trip tickets, knowing the return would be a throw away, he managed to get his changed to June 1st and flying into BWI instead of Miami.

29 days and counting!!

Ramping Up or Winding Down?

Actually, I think we are doing both! We are slowly trimming our To Do lists as we prepare for our move. Of course we keep coming up with new things that we think we need to get/bring with us. Hubby dug out our old 22" TV and decided to bring it in his carry-on. We ordered HDMI cables from Amazon (great prices) as well as a carry bag for his Go Pro camera (scuba diving). He took his gear in for a checkup and when he went to pick it up, I went along for a Five Guys dinner fix (yum).

We're both working through paperwork, moving everything possible to e-statements in an attempt to limit our mail. We're making an appointment with a local lawyer this week, getting our wills redone in Tennessee. Next week we hope to make the trek to Atlanta to pick up our Visas as well as visit my youngest and her family.

I got my new Travelon anti-theft purse today. I'm not a large purse person so was happy to find this smaller bag. I can fit all my basic toiletries including clip-on sunglasses, phone, wallet/cards and even my Kindle Fire. It's really sturdy and the security features are amazing! The main zipper locks, it has multiple RFID security pockets for your passport and credit cards and it has a special clamping lock to attach the purse to a chair. It's long enough to wear cross body, which is my preferred style. Oh, the strap has a wire running through it and the main body is protected from slashing as well.

I'm comparing prices for our transport from Guayaquil to Cuenca in a car/truck/van big enough for us and all our luggage. Our new landlord is finishing up some minor repairs and our downstairs neighbor says things are looking good!

We're trying to pin down our router needs and we bought a Roku 3 for media streaming (Amazon Prime, Netflix, etc). We know we will need a VPN and Strong VPN has been highly recommended, we just need to figure out what router will work best.

Last spring/summer I bought a Scottevest on sale and tonight when I checked they had men's on sale so we ordered one for Stu. Lets you securely and safely carry a TON of things in the 22 pockets. Very comfortable, too!

The funniest purchase is a couple pair of sweat pants for lounging around at home. Neither of us have worn them in years but knowing how cool it can be at night even during summer time weather, we both thought it was a good idea. Can't beat $6 sweatpants at Wal-Mart. LOL!

I've packed a few things but put nothing into space bags as yet. I hope to be tackling that this weekend and start to see how much room we're taking up in the bags with what we have already stuck away for the move. There is more to be pulled out of closets and drawers before making the final decision on what goes and what stays.

Stu has been busy changing oil in both trucks and our RV's generator and both motorcycles have had their 20k service and now have Sta-Bil in their gas tanks. He's working on straightening and organizing stuff in the shed while I tackle inside. All liquids have to be gone before we leave since we'll be winterizing the RV and won't be leaving the heat or A/C turned on.

So we have definitely been busy ramping up towards our move (and our cruise) as well as winding down living here in the US. Oh yeah, he called American Airlines today and changed his return flight from our Feb date (that we never planned to use) to a June 1st date and is flying into BWI instead of Miami. This will allow him to be with his youngest for the birth of her firstborn!

The countdown continues....

We are on the final leg of our trip back home from Route 66 and I find that my quiet riding time is filled with thoughts and plans for our move to Cuenca. Since our visit we've had friends move out of the area (even out of the country), a few are planning a move to the coast but many have stayed. As anywhere, life changes and we adjust and adapt.

Our countdown is 56 days now and there are a lot of things to still get done. The difficult part isn't getting them done, it's the timing and coordination of so many intertwining issues. When to turn off our cell phones? How will we communicate from that point till we arrive in Ecuador? Do we put utilities on vacation mode or turn them off completely? When to winterize the RV and truck? Just to name a few things...

I also have to worry about the other end, making sure our hotel is set for our first overnight in Guayaquil as well as transportation to the hotel after midnight. Oh, and arrange for our transport from the hotel to Cuenca 3-4 hr drive) with an English speaking driver with room for all our luggage.

Then there is the packing made a little more complex because we 1) are driving to Florida so need clothes for that trip, 2) are going on a 7 day cruise so need clothes for that trip, and 3) are visiting family for a few days before we fly out. Phew! I'm thinking that I'll pack for the cruise first. Then I'll pull out what I can wear while driving and visiting family, while leaving room to stuff them in a bag just before our flight.

I know it will all come together and I'm trying REALLY HARD to not panic. LOL! Bear with me...

Slowly fine-tuning our packing

We keep adding things to our packing list but we also know some of these things will come off the list when we start to actually pack our bags. Our initial plan was to use the High Sierra bags we bought for our month long exploratory trip.

 

The High Sierra AT3 rolling backpacks will be our carry-on and the High Sierra AT3 32" Rolling Duffle will be our first checked bag. We planned on two more checked bags each for the rest of our clothes and kitchen/bath items. We almost forgot Stu's bag with all his scuba gear so we will be over by one bag. Our tickets are Business Class on American Airlines so we get three free checked bags each, up to 70#.

We originally planned to use Sterilite Footlockers and purchased four of them from Wal-Mart. Then we discovered that they are over by .5" - we also learned that Delta and American are clamping down on oversize/overweight bags. The last thing we want to happen is to have to pay $200 each for four bags or worst than that, be at the airport and have to buy very expensive smaller bags to repack.

So I did more research and found these great bags from Wal-Mart, Protege Expandable Rolling 32" Duffle. Only $14 each, they are wheeled and sturdy. An added bonus is they fold back down into a compact size when not in use so we can stuff them into our bags whenever we return to the US and then use them to carry back new things.

They are a little smaller but since it turned out I had bought one earlier as a spare bag, I tried repacking one of the trucks and found almost everything fit. We'll use the luggage straps and TSA approved locks we bought for the trunks on these bags. Oh, and since I ordered four, shipping was free! The footlockers won't go to waste, we'll use them for storage here in our shed.

Our basic list to bring hasn't changed a lot but one recent addition was measuring cups and spoons. Why? Because all my recipes are in cups, ounces and table/tea spoon measurements, not metric. I also have bought a couple of items for dressier wear, things that pack well and will do double duty on our cruises.

That is one thing we have to take into account when we pack - we start off with a 7 day cruise to the Western Carribean. We have two or three 20" Protege Expandable Duffles, in fact Stu is using one right now for his trip to Maryland, and I think we can each fit what we need in one of those. Then we just need to leave enough room in one of the larger duffles to put the clothes and folded duffle. Since these are no longer available online, check your local store - they're only $10 and are great to have on hand.

We bought a bunch of Space Bags as well as some from Zip-Loc and we'll be using those for for all our clothes, towels and other linens. That should help the bulk. Due to the size of the duffles, I'm not really worried about being over 70#, they weigh very little themselves and I can heft the one that is currently packed. I could barely pick up the 49# bags on our trip last spring!

But Ecuador preparation will now take a backseat to prepping for our Route 66 motorcycle trip. Watch for updates on our main blog, Our Prime Years.

Starting our Visa application process....

Guess what I got in the mail today? My birth certificate with a date that can be read! WOOT!! Now we have everything we need to get our Visa application process started. Thank you to Maite Duran from Ecuador Movers for going above and beyond in working with me as I asked a ton of questions.

Many do this on their own, once they arrive in Ecuador. I wanted to remove the stress from the process, especially since things can be very date/time sensitive once you are there. Maite and her co-workers are doing everything - notarizations, getting the papers apostiled, then translated then notarized and apostiled again. Phew! Exhausts me just thinking about it.

Hopefully we won't have any issues crop up while we are riding Route 66 on our motorcycles the next two months. If all goes well, we'll get...

...and then get our passports stamped at the Ecuadorian Consulate in Atlanta. All that will be left is dealing with selling my motorcycle, utilities, insurance, mail notifications, packing and then on to our cruise out of Tampa. WOOT!! 117 days and counting...

Ecuador Movers

I thought I'd share this video about the company we are using for our Visa paperwork processing, Ecuador Movers. 128 days and counting!

Traipsing down the paperwork trail....

We are making progress. We've received my birth certificate, my late husband's death certificate, my two early in life marriage/divorce certificates and our Social Security statements. Yesterday we got the tracking information for Stu's New York birth certificate. Nothing from my two Virginia marriages yet....

Two whoopsies so far, one fixed, on pending. We printed the official looking online letters of benefits from the Social Security website. Sent a copy to our facilitator and she said they wouldn't work, they have to be originals (with a signature or stamp). So a couple days ago we headed to our neighboring town and stopped in the Social Security office. We got called immediately after registering and she quickly printed, signed and stamped our letters. Less than ten minutes and we were done!

From there we headed to CVS where we got our prisoner looking passport photos taken. Not cheap since we needed three photos each and they come in twos, but in a small town, there aren't a lot of choices.

Oh, the other whoopsie is my birth certificate from Massachusetts. It was the first document to arrive but I can't use it. The date stamp is all but illegible. Three phones with three voicemails left and no return calls. Sigh...frustrating. This was one of the most costly documents but VitalChek isn't liable for the accuracy or usability of the document. So next week, I'll be working on my novel from home where 1) I can hear better and 2) I can get return calls easily.

This week we will order our background checks, the last thing to be ordered. We have our contract from Ecuador Movers and will be sending that off to them shortly. Here's hoping that things will progress smoothly from here!

I also picked up some drop-in sheet protectors for the originals and have them all in a three ring binder. All the better to protect them and keep everything in one spot. Two steps forward and only one step back this week!

Another step forward!

Things are moving, sometimes slowly, but still moving. Stu has kept busy fixing things on the RV and property. He loves checking things off his To Do List (and I keep finding more to add).

We're moving to paperless statements for any financial institutions that provide the option. We're taking ourselves off of mailing lists. We're making a list of what "might" still arrive in our snail mail and what we'd like our mail forwarding service to do with it.

The big step, and first expensive one, was to use VitalChek.com to order our birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce papers and my late husband's death certificate. We still have to get our TN background checks as well as our Social Security statements (stamped or signed). Oh, and 3 passport photos each (white background, no earrings). So we'll take a movie trip into Cookeville next week and hopefully can get an impromptu appointment at the SS office (or walk away with appointments) and get our photos taken. I'll also order our background checks online.

Then we'll package it all up together and send it to our facilitator, Maite Duran of Ecuador Movers. We'd taking the more expensive but expedient route. Most people opt to get their own notarization and apostiles done before sending the paperwork in to be translated into Spanish and apostiled again. We're sending them all the originals and they will get it all done.

Why are we doing it this way? Two reasons. The biggest is to reduce stress, we just have too much on our plate before our move. The second is due to time, which ties right back into reason number one. With my writing and publishing my second mystery book, our two month motorcycle trip, all the things we have to do to get ready to move in December, plus take our cruise...well, I think you can see the issue. So it's well worth the money to get this all done by Maite and her partner in Cuenca. When we arrive in Ecuador, they'll help us file the paperwork for our cedula (national ID card) as well.

Still a lot of items on our Ecuador To Do List (we also each have a personal list as well as our Route 66 list). But we're trimming them down daily. Are we crazy? Uh, yeah!