Our list of things to do...
OK - so we are just a couple of weeks away from our departure date from Canada and we thought it might be a good idea to compile a list of the things that we needed to do to get ready. If we don't do it now we will likely forget many of them as time goes by, and we are pretty sure that we will get asked for this info later. So, for those of you who might find this useful, here is a list of things that come mind at this moment that hopefully reflect what we needed to address during our planning and preparation for leaving Canada:
Give notice to retire – take each other out for dinner to celebrate
Prepare spread sheet to compare many potential locations for new tropical home
Pick date to leave Canada – allow plenty of time to deal with the “to do” list
Pick a new location from your top three on the spread sheet
Look into requirements for long term residency in new location
Prepare a list of your previous residency info – some countries want that (Barbados needs it from your 16th birthday)
Start sorting and purging all of the things we own
Arrange for flights – have a toast to that
Find a new apartment in tropical paradise and book it
Figure out what it will cost to ship things to our new home
Prepare list of items that need to be sold
Prepare ads for Craigslist
Sell everything - this is very difficult and time consuming - some things are very hard to let go of.
Help buyers carry things out - get a massage
Have a garage sale – have a hot bath to rejuvenate
Transfer music C.D's to computer with backup – sell C.D's
Backup all computer data to remote hard drive
Buy totes for storing items that have to be kept and be moved to new home
Rent storage locker
Load storage locker with first batch of stuff – get a massage
Start "personal effects list" with a detailed list of make, model, serial number of everything that goes into the storage locker to be moved
Give notice to landlord
Update RRSP to maximize
Advise Medical Services Plan that we are moving – pay for 6 months coverage
Compile a summary of our medical history - might need it later
Obtain traveler's medical insurance
Donate unsalable household items to family or to charity
Donate winter clothing to charities
Load more stuff into storage locker – get a massage
Update "personal effects list"
Throw away your snow shovel – yaaaay – have a glass of wine
Find and bookmark website links that you will need while you are away
Renew Driver's license
Get international driver's license
Find birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc
Update Wills
Renew Passports as needed
Life Insurance...
Get prescription from doctor for 6 months of meds
Keep important papers in one place
Load more stuff into storage locker – get a massage
Update "personal effects list"
Advise Pension folks that you are leaving Canada
Advise CRA that you are leaving Canada and will eventually apply for non-resident status
Set up account with “mailboxes etc.”
Set up account with “Epost”
Forward mail to new address
Sell Car and truck and cancel insurance – buy some good walking shoes
Cancel services to hydro, phone, cable, etc.
Unlock your mobile phones so they can be used elsewhere
Get police certificate (no criminal activities) in case needed
Pack two suitcases for each of us with shorts, tank tops, flip flops and snorkeling gear
Clean the entire house and storage areas – have a hot bath and a glass of wine
Load last bit of stuff into storage locker – get a massage
Update "personal effects list"
Book a hotel room for your last evening in Canada
Go to hotel and have a nice dinner and a glass of wine to celebrate the start of your adventure
Fly to a nice warm place and move into a furnished apartment and have a margarita
Stop worrying about the stuff you left behind in your nice secure locker
Tacos and margaritas on the beach.....bring suntan lotion :-)