Prepare

There is quite a lot to think about. Has it always been like this? I can't remember ever getting wool underwear, changing a mobile battery, arranging an international driving license, ordering new shock-absorbing soles for my Blundstones, or asking questions about my medications before. This is also the first time I am 46.5 years old on a trip, perhaps that’s part of it. Responsible now, mature, fully aware.

For a long time, I have blamed the journey when I have shopped: Well, I MUST actually have linen clothes, a leather waist bag, a flying tent, and emerald green mascara. But in the recent months, I have also been quite ascetic, not buying a single thing for 10 days and such. This month, the project 'live on 1000 SEK for 30 days' has gone down the drain, mostly because it’s July and people want to drink beer (by people, I mean me). It has been very easy not to buy food anyway, unless you count cheese puffs as food, because I’ve bought those a few times.

I’m leaving in six weeks, I don’t know where to start, it depends on where I can volunteer. There’s something about browsing through the various WorkAway hosts! Someone has built a hobbit house where you’re supposed to be with their dogs, someone has a walnut farm, but you can also attend weddings, there are beekeepers, animal shelters, ecological projects, cooking groups, yogis, and mountain dwellers.