I'm so excited for you, gretantalizing, that I could just drink a Guinness! Awesome! But boy, after seeing your crap room, I can understand why you're panicking about what to put in two suitcases. Hey, the squeaky fish alone would take up ONE suitcase.

You're going to do just fine. It's an adjustment, that's all. Just think of it as a long vacation rather than a PCS. Besides, there are several people (and I'm one) who will have to make sure that you're not missing your friends too badly. After all, 3 years of bad food, bad wine, bad music, and bad language..... well, that can really alter a person, ya know. Gotta have friends to help keep some of that from you and dampen the effects of it.

You know I'm so sorry about Lukey, but I'm glad that it's not right now that you have to make that decision--and you know you would have. It was time when it was time. Yoda's going to be a handful for you, but I sure can see her lovin' being over in Italy where she can go almost anywhere with you and DH. Maybe, knowing her, she'll learn to bark with an Italian accent. Can't wait to see her fashionably dressed, supping on spaghetti. You know DH won't deny her.....

Hang in there, woman. And let me know when you're coming up this way so I can take a day off. I have a spare bed, Chipper and Yoda can hang out too if needed so that's not a worry (although Swiper might have different ideas about that).

It'll all go fast....... and though I'm sad you're going to be over there for so long, I know my friend's only a phone call away and I can live with that.