Our departure date is a mere three weeks away. Are we really ready? As neophyte international adventurers, we have somewhat anxiously been discussing the complexities of travel. What about having cell phone service in a foreign land . Will we have health insurance coverage abroad? How shall we endure the very long flight to Auckland in our tiny seats? Will drugs be necessary? What about carrying food or medication on the plane? How can we pack efficiently enough so that we can get four adults and their luggage into a mid-sized vehicle?

All these questions and many more keep popping into our minds. Our ever patient travel agent, Karen has been a great source of information, and our steadfast travel planner Colleen, can find anything on the internet and eventually comes up with an answer to the most obscure questions, altho we are not sure about the cell phone issue yet.

We have been somewhat preoccupied with packing compact, lightweight clothing and tiny gear. we have learned that there is an industry that provides for such needs and we are becoming familiar with the lightest possible sets of undies and rain suits as well as compact cameras and binoculars. Our latest acquisitions are lightweight microfiber towels and washcloths.

We have learned that no fresh fruit or vegetable may be brought on the plane and that all prescriptions must be in their original, labeled containers. Vitamins must also be in their original bottles, which sort of prohibits bringing the Costco sized bottles along.

New Zealand has national health insurance (unlike some other English speaking nation) and medical care in case of accident is covered regardless of fault (They do drive on the wrong side of the road there). We are told that our own health insurance will cover urgent, emergent or hospital care. Hopefully we will not have to test that theory.

The unfortunate world wide recession has a slight silver lining for we four travelers, as the monetary exchange rate has improved in favor of the US dollar in recent months, so that what we forget to pack or choose not to bring, can be purchased at a fair price in New Zealand.