4 weeks to departure

Still getting stuff out of the house - I can't believe how much old, useless and damaged items we were holding on to! This is one part of the plan that I had underestimated - not in terms of work but in terms of satisfaction! A very healthy exercise. Next week will be the time for furniture purging - making room for our sub-letter who will be moving in with some of his furniture. Time to get rid of our beat-up, ripped and dirty couch - yay! Then the futon in our bedroom - also at the end of its life, but this one is a little sad because Leo was born on it. Dylan's dresser is also a curb case, and I think that's pretty much all in the furniture department. We shall go shopping when we come back!

I did cancel our booking in the big beach house in Telchac Puerto after all, I decided to listen to my gut feeling and the discomfort I have with renting such a big property and occupy only one third of it. We will settle for a very nice two bedroom home with a pool. It's a bit more expensive, but we will rent it for about a week and also go spend about 5 days in Merida - and balance the cost with a camping excursion on Holbox Island. I've always wanted to go there, and camping will be an adventure. There is a camp ground called 'Ida Y Vuelta', they have everything we need, and the price is right. Should be fun!

When we will arrive in Mexico on November 14, we have planned on spending 2 or 3 days in Playa del Carmen to do some shopping - including groceries for our first month in remote Xcalak. I originally wanted to go to a little hotel that I've been to a few years ago, but as I was looking for a better last minute deal I came upon some great pricing on all inclusive resorts. So for $103 per day, the four of us will kick off our great adventure in a modest all inclusive resort - which is cheaper then the original hotel+restaurant scenario - and so convenient! The kids will love the big pool, the buffet meals, and the beach is gorgeous. http://www.allegroplayacar.com/
The resort is also at the edge of town (as opposed to out of town like most resorts), which makes it easy for us to do our shopping (some sports items, a guitar, cooler, beach towels, etc.).

Actually, it's less than 4 weeks away now... yippi!!!!!!