Preparation Blues

I am a planner. I’ve talked about this before. I like order. I like lists. That’s not to say that I am a neat freak, because I’m not. But chaos stresses me out. I like a schedule. I like to know where I’m going to be at any given time. I do not excel at spontaneity (but I’m working on that and have made vast improvements in the past year or two, so high-five me).

That being said, Bonnie and I are about to embark upon our very first cruise. We are ridiculously excited about it and it’s going to be great. We’ll be gone for eight days. Eight (hopefully) warm, sunny, gorgeous days. So what’s the thing that flies in the face of everything I thought I believed in? Why am I pulling my hair out this week? Packing and preparation, that’s why. Packing and preparation. I hate it. I HATE IT. I should love it, right? I totally should. I mean, what’s more wonderful for an orderly person than figuring out what needs to be bought/washed/packed? What better things for listing? But–weirdly–I hate trip prep. I despise it. It makes me cranky. So while poor Bonnie is smiling and skipping around the house in anticipation of our trip, I am grumbling about all the things that need to be done ahead of time. The most ridiculous part of it, though, is this: there really isn’t all that much to be done. I just make it seem like there is and I let it feel like there is. There is clearly something wrong with me.

At least I’m aware of it, right? Baby steps.

I will do my best to post some photos on Facebook during the trip, hopefully after my stress is gone, I’m no longer cold (like I have been for the past four months), and I’ve had an umbrella drink or five. Stay tuned…