Time is everything!

In two weeks I leave for Peru.  Currently I am wrapping up my legal cases with clients by finding other competent attorneys to complete the client work.  We also have a major renovation of a hotel property on St. Croix that I am overseeing.  No time will ever be good to take an adventure like this, but obligation wise, it is the closest I will get to freeing up my time while I am still in fairly good health (or retire early and die in poverty). 

Preparation wise, I think I am almost there.  REI had most of what I needed - thanks to Ginny their resident Peru expert.  I have the basic survival tools bought (let's see other than a book of matches I got from the restaurant I ate at last night...).  Last month I had my yellow fever shot, typhoid, hep A and B, tetanus booster, malaria medicine (specific for the Peru jungle), antibiotics, etc.  A few more things to buy, but everything fits in the pack.  I may need a porter for the whole trip!  Just joking.  Everything is lightweight and kept to bare necessity.  It will be very interesting to see how I do without all the creature comforts I am accustomed to - my trip luxury is that my hammock has a mosquito net!

In addition to constantly reevaluating my gear, my health should be my biggest challenge.  I am not a spring chicken.  At 52 I am 20 pounds over weight (my doctor would say 30 lbs.).  I do not exercise and even though I said I would do some hiking to get into shape, I have miserably failed to do so.  My right knee constantly hurts, as does my left wrist.  Otherwise, I am in great shape! lol.

Now I know many of you think of me as a talented attorney in a comfy office environment.  This is true.  But when I was a spring chicken I was quite active in the outdoors.  I used to be a WSI, I had EMT training, white water rafting, spelunking, mountain climbing, Nordic skiing, and a few other things - which I am sure I have forgot half of it and the other half I remember is no longer applicable because it has been updated and changed.  So I am no Bear Grylls but I can tell UP from down and laughed when young Ellie said "South America. It's like America, but south."  Hmmm...well I am going to find out if young Ellie is right.       

Comienza la cuenta regresiva!