Preparing for the trip, physically and mentally....

Going away for three and a half months is a bit of a challenge. The psychological thing about being out of physical contact with our kids and grandkids is one of my major hurdles to overcome. Those of you that know us would be aware that I/we see our three children almost every weekday, and sometimes on the weekend. Not socially, but at work or in casual passing. Of our five grandchildren we see four a few times a week, Nathan less regularly.

During the time away it eventually grinds on me that we are with strangers all the time. The conversations therefore are completely different than at home with family or friends. This is good, we enjoy new people and different situations, that is why we travel. [This time however we are with good friends Jim and Gail whom we travelled with on a previous world cruise two years ago, and my sister Moe.] We will all still try to meet new people rather than go as a 'self-contained group'.

The majority of the time is not spent dressed up with a glass in your hand in formal attire. It is a mix of things, listed in no particular order: an early [6.30] am swim; lingering over a outdoor breakfast of bran flakes and a banana, or a salad for lunch and trying to eat modestly at the dinner table, [either in the dining room or in a more casual arrangement]; attending talks on a very wide range of subjects from ancient cultures to rock and roll trivia; last time I took Tai-Chi for 69 sessions; Fellette attended a daily bible-study; listening to 'port talks' on upcoming ports of call, 42 this time I believe; going to the gym for a period of time each day or every other day; doing long walks on the promenade deck with yourself or a walking friend.

Continuing...attending daily bridge lessons; [this usually has a fanatical following]; taking painting or art lessons; computer time, either off-line working on writings or pictures, or checking your email on-line; reading, either in a public area or in your cabin, [the best for me is on the balcony, alone while at sea]; there are dance lessons every day at sea; attending various other special events in the theatre or other rooms, etc., etc.

On the fancy side there are cocktail parties given by the ship or fellow passengers or tour groups. Very common is the custom of having a small group of friends to your cabin for a casual drink and maybe some nibbles before dinner; On some nights a small group may meet before dinner in an upstairs lounge for a quiet drink or maybe a little dance? This trip there are 26 'formal' nights, not bad for an 111 day trip.

I often spend time with people going over camera, computer or picture issues with like-minded people. Some complete strangers. Fellette will seek out a Scrabble companion or group of Scrabblers. I need a little time alone each day to do my journal/blog.

Often I only see Fellette during the day at breakfast, for a quick lunch and then she may rush in just in time to get ready for dinner together. Fellette usually attends the 'shows' at night, I select them carefully, usually retiring to the cabin for some quiet and blogging. She keeps very busy, they will likely have a ships choir that requires practices, and also a knitting thing that ladies do for underdeveloped countries and those children in them.

So, that is a brief view of how we may spend a day at sea, of which we have about 62 this time. Sometimes you feel like the day has just drifted by and others you wonder when you will get a chance to relax. Most of the time we are dressed in shorts and a cool tee shirt or top.

And so, the change from our life at home has more of an affect, on me at least, than the physical aspect of packing our cases for the trip. As a matter of fact, that was all taken care of about two to three weeks ago when our luggage was picked up by the ship's agents. When we see it next it should be in our cabin! [Some of those cases are my sister's.]

I will later describe a "port day", completely different and sometimes bizarre experiences.