Having decided to launch a life of travel I thought that it might make some small sense to do a little planning in preparation. I whipped out my trusty Parker Jotter and helped myself to a handful of bar coasters (I do my best (only?) work in pubs). I sketched out a timeline with tasks and goals and tried to think of the minutiae of organization and actions to be ready to begin. The schedule, of course, was not set in stone, and was updated (um, corrected) and amended as seemed appropriate.
Specifically, I was trying to avoid future fretting, reduce uncertainty, and become as automated as possible. I wanted to avoid situations where I was forced to travel to the US to manage stuff or things in person, and eliminate the ‘gosh, if only I had done X, I would be much better off in this situation’ events.
My experience was that I had often set up systems and services, but not tested them. Only when I went to use them on the road did I find out that there was mystery or further steps that had to be accomplished. So try everything out before launching.
Here is a suggested timeline of how far ahead to accomplish some tasks:
One week: Move your remaining non travel objects into storage. Find a couch to crash on for a few days.
One month: Measure all the physical stuff that you have left, and get a storage locker if you need one.
Three months: Get any visas needed for first few countries. Use both your passports.
Six months: Test drive the new plans. Take a trip for about two weeks somewhere in your home country. Try out all the new gear, especially if you are not an experienced hiker, or used to carrying a backpack. See how it fits, whether a swap out is needed; what you can ditch, or what additional items might be needed. Buy a SIM card and use it in one of your phones. Use new navigation apps, practice downloads and offline wayfinding. Find and book hotels and launch flights using services of choice. Switch your hair washing regimen to ‘poofree’.
Nine months: Test drive all the digital stuff. Make sure that credit card cash withdrawals work; transfer some money to a friend and to a family member. Set up second phone service plan and ensure that the backup phone apps and settings mirror your main phone and tablet. Spend a week with your main phone hidden away – to be sure that the backup works as you want it to. For extra credit hide both phones and run your life using only a tablet.
One year: Apply for a second passport. Set up your vaccination schedule. Do the research to figure out if you will establish residency in another State or country after you launch.
One and a half years: Have the right credit cards accounts open. Have two separate bank checking accounts open. Get Transferwise (now Wise) account set up. Set up a mailbox service, forward all mail there, and change ‘home address’ in all online accounts to that address. Make friends with the mail drop staff. If you will require the services of a human tax preparer, find one now.
Two years: Have the ‘robo investing’ (Betterment?) account of your choice set up with regular automatic deposits. Start offloading possessions.