What About Mail?

      When you travel for a length of time you have to figure out what to do about your mail. There are a couple different options that I have found:

1.  Have mail held at the post office
2. Have someone you trust pick up your email
3.  Subscribe to a mail service

    

 Post Office Hold

      If you are going to be gone for more than 3 days and less than 30, you can contact the post office to hold your mail.  This allows you to leave without having people know that you aren't home by the fact that your mailbox looks like a pop fresh biscuit tube.  

USPS Hold Mail Service

 Trusted Person

      If you have a trusted friend of family member that can take care of your mail it is a good option. You can either use that person as your address or you can pick up a PO Box.   A PO Box is obviously not free but depending on where you live you can spend less than $100 a year.  If you’re trusted one will allow you can just use their address as your address. This is cheaper as you most people that care enough to allow you to do this will not charge you and instead will settle for a souvenir. This option is good for those trips over 30 days and if you don't plan on getting much mail that you need to act on when you are gone.

Mail Service

If you are going to be gone for over 30 days and don't have a trusted person, or don't want do inconvenient anyone, a mail service is an option.  This is probably your most expensive option but there are some good options for the long term traveler.  Some will forward your mail based on where you are going to be at a specific time.  Other services will have scan your mail and give you the option to have it sent to you or just shredded. The scanning services give you an option of not falling behind on mail and bills while you are gone.  Here are some options with a disclaimer that I have never used any of them but Earth Class Mail has been recommended on more than one occasion

Earth Class Mail
Traveling Mailbox
Virtual Post Mail


Are there any that options that you prefer to use more than others or an option that I missed?

I Guess That's Settled

What I got in my fortune cookie today

       I have been planning an indefinite international trip.   I am starting out with 6 weeks in  Barcelona,  Spain and from there it is not decided.  Since I am an American i need to leave Schengen Area within 90 days from the day i show up Europe.  My next destination has been narrowed down to the following:

• Ireland and the UK
• Former Yugoslavia
• Morocco
• Madrid
• Italy by car
 

 I am what are your thoughts?  Where would you go next if you were in my shoes?

A Change to the Blog

     Many years ago this started as a food/recipe blog. I spent some time on it (not enough obviously) and it fell by the wayside. I came to the conclusion that I didn't like to use recipes so why would I spend so much time making recipes for others to use.  So years later I am going to resurrect this blog in a different way.  I spend a lot of time wandering about the internet looking at things that interest me and they might also interest you.  I am going to pass on this knowledge to you for the low, low price of free.  The topics will change as with content but all will be interesting (to me at least). So if you are reading this then welcome and hope you enjoy our journey together.