help me make a pre-deployment checklist

[basilosaurus]

I really should put deployment in quotes, since I'll probably go with H for the first month or so, and he's going to a pretty nice place (Singapore). But, technically, it is one, and it's for 6-9 months, so there's some prep involved. Don't worry, I won't be asking for a pity party

We just got back from a long vacation, and H is in an exercise between tomorrow and his departure (including the weekend), so I'm going to be the one getting everything ready at home, for both of us.

I've thought of a POA and mail forwarding. I'm doing all our laundry from our trip now, so I'll probably just put it aside to pack once it's done. What else? I think we'll be in some form of executive hotel, but there's no mil community to speak of (ie no commissary, maybe not even apo address), not that I'll need a commissary when I have the fabulous food stalls!

[brandienee]

Get paper copies of your passports to keep separately from your real passports, incase you lose one and you have to go to the embassay. Keep it with your POA when you get to the hotel.

That's all I can think of for now...

Otherwise, I am jealous. I would love to see Singapore.

[basilosaurus]

Is it just me, or should people know all the information contained in this list already?

www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/migrated/legalservices/helpreservists/forms/checklist.authcheckdam.pdf

Most of that should be known regardless of military status. I mean, a checklist that includes whether your DL is valid? Knowing how to get your car maintained? Are we still women in the 50s that we wouldn't know such things?

Also, I thought of something not on that list. Int'l drivers license

[brandienee]

For an 18 year old spouse, it's great info.

[basilosaurus]

We already have pre-pay monthly plans in anticipation of him leaving (he was supposed to go a month after getting to Hawaii), but that reminds me that I'll ask for his phone to be unlocked.

I don't think we carry any debt on anything, but I'll check into that. Thanks, ojo. I'm assuming that only goes for cards that are in his name?

We lived apart for most of the last 2+ years, and yet I've already forgotten all the things that I have to disentangle to maintain 2 separate places. Things like having 2 cameras or dealing with him stealing my precious laptop. I know once I get over my 12 hour jet lag, just in time to go 10 hours in the opposite direction, I'll start remembering.

[sookie]

May 14, 2012 19:15:50 GMT -5 brandienee said:

For an 18 year old spouse, it's great info.

This exactly. I've had a spouse call me before to ask me what kind of oil her car needed or when her bills were due. While it might be stuff we all think you should already know, you'd be surprised at what some spouses don't know.

[basilosaurus]

And here's where I piss people off by saying that if you don't know that shit you're too far young to get married. Seriously, those are skills you learn by reaching adulthood, and if you haven't reached that, you're not adult enough for marriage. Hell, you're not adult enough to live on your own.

[sookie]

May 15, 2012 1:32:48 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

And here's where I piss people off by saying that if you don't know that shit you're too far young to get married. Seriously, those are skills you learn by reaching adulthood, and if you haven't reached that, you're not adult enough for marriage. Hell, you're not adult enough to live on your own.

Oh no, I agree, but unfortunately it's the world we live in. I can see not knowing what kind of oil off hand your vehicle takes (I couldn't tell you), but I know where my manual is and I keep records of everything so I could look it up.