Punch List Grows

Our planning sessions continued last week with generation of a "to do" list to help us stay on track We brainstormed a wide range of tasks to tackle over the time remaining before our June 15th departure for Sweden. We categorized the tasks under two main headings -- "House" and "Boat." Here's a sampling of the items on the list:
Boat
Training
· ASA courses
o Celestial Navigation (Jack)
o Basic Keelboat Sailing (Jocelyn & Em)
o Coastal Cruising (Jocelyn & Em)
· Self-Instruction
o Marine Diesel Engines (Jack)
o GRIB files (Jack)
o Offshore Medical (Jack)
o Sail Repair (Jocelyn)
o SSB (Jack & Jocelyn)
o Wifi (Jocelyn)
o Spanish/French (Jack & Jocelyn)
. Shop for and secure boat insurance (Jack)
o Generate sailing resume
o Write cover letter with 2009-2010 cruising plan
o Complete & submit applications
o Negotiate & purchase
. Research and prepare for US Vessel Registration (Jack)
. Procure cruising guide (Jack)
. Install Parallels, Windows XP, and Norton AntiVirus on the MacBook Pro
. Download and test GRIB software on MacBook Pro
. Research, select and order spare parts (Jack)
. Stage and pack gear (Jack & Jocelyn)
. Make plane reservations (Jack)
. Create log forms & Guest guide (Jack)
. Make list of initial Sweden procurements (besides spares) (Jack & Jocelyn)
. Make boat business cards (Jocelyn)
. Buy books/CDs (Jack)
o Merck manual
· Fill ipod
. Procure prescriptions (Jack & Jocelyn)
. Assemble medical file, e.g., lab results and written prescriptions (Jack)
. Shop for and secure winter storage in Sweden (Jack)
. Generate written cruising plan (Jack & Jocelyn)

House
. Arrange dogsitting/housesitting (Jack)
. Declutter (Jack & Jocelyn)
. Apply for and obtain Morgan Stanley World Card (Jack)
. Purge basement (Jack)
. Mulch (Jack)
. Sprinkler system repair & activation (Jack)
. Sell truck (Jack)
. Sell Capri (Jack)
. Set up autopay or prepay all bills (Jack)
. Transfer funds to cover summer house expenses (Jocelyn
. Take Maya to vet in May (Jack)
. Repair fence posts and pickets (Jack)
. Button up hot tub (Jack)
. Repair downstairs shower caulk (Jack)
. Set up Windleblo blog (Emily)
. Get in shape (Jack, Jocelyn & Emily)
. Rebuild VW (Jack)
. Schedule and make dentist and doctors appointments (Jack, Jocelyn & Emily)
. Find shoresite coordinator – provide with limited POA (Jocelyn)
. Browse noonsite.com

There's plenty more tasks to handle, but that gives a sense of what we're working on.

Right now, I'm in the midst of assembling an application for a Swedish Resident Permit. Becuase we're staying in the Schengen States, which include Sweden and Norway, more than 90 days, a Resident Permit is required. The application involves a cover letter explaining the need for the permit, an application form, proof of health insurance, a bank statement to show that we have sufficient funds, and a passport photo. We have to send our passports off with the application and hope they come back in time for our departure. One description on the website said it could take up to nine months to process! But the person I spoke with in the Swedish consulate in Los Angeles said it should take much less time. Each application has to go to Sweden for review. So cross your fingers that all goes smoothly.