In 10 days I will be on a plane to Ecuador and the butterflies are starting to gather in my stomach.

The ‘Holy crap I’m leaving in 2 weeks!’ urgency has hit me and I’m making lists. Medications, clothing, bathroom products, shoes – my brain is becoming consumed with what I need to again travel overseas for 8+ months. But I’m torn, knowing I really don’t need as much as I think I do, yet still being sucked in by the travel gadgets I see advertised. So yesterday I stopped into the Kathmandu outdoor adventure store, just to look…..and bought some instant heat packs to keep my toes warm at night, my hands warm in my pockets, and help my injured shoulder when it’s hurting. Yep I was sucked in (but they really are amazing!)

I’ll be re-packing pretty much everything I unpacked in December, with a few small changes. This trip I won’t be taking a ‘dressed up dress’ as I now know that hostel based travel is very casual and I won’t wear it. But I will definitely be taking women-specific medical supplies (think bladder infection.) As having that discussion in a foreign pharmacy with my issue not being fully understood isn’t the most amazing way to spend my time.

I’m also concentrating on packing items like a pair of men’s socks for the really cold days because they’re so much warmer than women’s, and ensuring all my clothes match each other no matter what.

I find myself in an odd middle-ground of having done all this a year ago and knowing that everything will be fine, but being nervous about traveling to a completely new continent alone and wanting to be prepared.

So with less than 2 weeks to go I’m doing what everyone does when they’re about to embark on an adventure – losing my mind, feeling a little flustered and whole lot excited!