“The Plan” outline that helped keep us focused and organized for the last few years:

Stage One: Early Preparation

1 ½- 2 Years Before Departure

1. Develop a balance sheet for the trip

   1. Expenses abroad

   2. Expenses in the US

   3. Teaching/rental income

   4. Investment expenses

   5. 1x expenses

   6. Expenses upon return

2. Research unknown costs while abroad

   1. Health insurance

   2. Tuition for kids

   3. Housing

   4. Cost of living 

   5. Airfare

3. Build a trip budget

4. Anticipate costs and budget for return prior to new employment

5. Research desired locations and schools

6. Pay off credit cards and student loan

7. Erica’s teaching license current

Stage Two: Countdown

One Year Before Departure

1. Passports renewed

2. Prepare house for rent

   1. Repairs

3. Cut expenses and tighten budget

4. Increase saving rate
5. TEFL certification for Erica

Seven Months Before Departure

6. Secure flights, transport, housing abroad

7. Discuss rental of house with property mgmt firm

Six Months Before: after April scouting trip

8. Inform kids schools of plans

9. Secure kids schools abroad

10. Rent house

11. Unload and sell final stuff.

12. Storage unit secured

13. Arrangements with cpa

Twelve Weeks Before

15. Give notice at work

16. Doctor, vision, dentist check-ups scheduled

17. School record and birth notary internationally recognized for schools, all 3 kids

18. Stock up on prescription medicines & toiletries

19. Build medical kit for the family

20. Vaccinations

21. Go paperless on all bills, remove from junk mail lists

22. Secure international health insurance

23. Set up all bills on auto-pay

24. Start packing house

25. Moving and storage company confirmed

6 Weeks Before

26. Arrange transport (Turrialba and to Nosara)

27. Arrange for mail to be forwarded to family

28. Change of address

29. Check expiration of drivers license, other stuff

30. Cancel subscriptions or switch mail to all e-delivery

31. Notify credit card companies, banks, insurance company

32. Inventory home and belongings video

33. Decide on what to bring with and what to send to family, friends or store

34. Garage sales, sell and give away

35. Backup all photos and computer files, external hard drive, safe deposit box, Dropbox

36. Copies of marriage, birth, passports, drivers licenses, insurance docs, medical, vaccinations, school records. Hard copy and Google docs or Dropbox pdf of all. 2 hard copies of everything. Original marriage, birth go to family

37. Prep laptop, data storage, load necessary files

38. Register as overseas voter

39. Create a master contact list with emails, addresses and phone

40. Final home repairs and cleanup

41. Unload all food and booze

2 Weeks Before

43. Final garage sale

44. Notify utilities of change date

45. PACK!

46. Identify stuff needed on person for travel

47. Paperwork checked

Departure Day

47. Hand carry items

48. Cash on person

49. Paperwork and valuables