All packed and ready to go!

I've been living out of my suitcase in my own home for the past few days, which is an odd experience. I mostly packed for Panama two weeks ago, before I went on my math conference trips.  Once I got back from those trips, I did some reorganization, but tried not to spread out too much, both so I wouldn't lose things, and also to make sure our home caretaker has empty spaces to move into.

My husband and I will be taking one carry-on each. I will have a suitcase which is really a suitcase/duffelbag combo, which I think is super clever.

Here's the suitcase resting on the duffel bag. 

When you put the duffel bag on top of the suitcase,
they zipper together into a monster suitcase. 
It weighs less than 50 pounds, but not much less!

I found this suitcase at a local thrift shop; score one for frugality and cleverness combined!

Neil will also have a very heavy suitcase that's really another one of mine: it's full of my books and math supplies.  Isn't that nice of him, to tote stuff around for me?

We'll head for the airport early early tomorrow -- the timing is entirely my fault, my husband keeps reminding me: he's not an early bird. I am, and I'm glad that this means we'll arrive in Panama while there's still lots of daylight in which to explore our surroundings.

By early afternoon tomorrow, we should be feet-on-the-ground in the Tocumen International Airport.  My host will meet us and take us to our AirBnB.  Once I'm back in internet contact there, I'll try to post a quick "we've arrived" update.  

In Panama news:

• Overseers of the Panama Canal want to store more water after a drought forced them to limit shipping last year. Their plan could threaten farmers’ livelihoods. [NYTimes article]