Recreational Packing for a 12 hour drive to No-Where

You are a good friend. Aces for trying! Congrats on packing success!

Glad to hear that you found a silver lining for a pretty dark cloud. I believe AC is still an option for vehicles in some parts of the world, but in the U.S. - especially the hot Southwest, I think it has to be standard equipment, and it’s a problem when it breaks. Your packing strategy has confirmed that you’ve got the right arrangements fit you next Europe trip! Things will get better - sounds like they can’t get much, much worse.

I hope your friend’s husband gets a full recovery, and that she and you do have better times ahead.

Great job at making lemonades out of lemonade. I hope your friend's husband isn't in the hospital long.

Thanks for sharing!

Oh, wow, horsewoofie! That is quite a story! While I am glad your packing list and packing cubes work, I am so sorry about dear friend and hubbie!

Thank you all. The lesson learned is not the packing, although it’s nice to know.
The real lesson is as we all age (I’m 70, my hubby is 71) we all need to realistically plan for the future. We and many of our friends do not have children. I doubt if dear friend and sick husband planned for Parkinson’s progression. Care and end of life directives need to be made and communicated to others before we are too old or unhealthy.

“Care and end of life directives need to be made and communicated to others before we are too old or unhealthy.”

Yes. This.

And take this from a retired hospital social worker...It is MUCH better to talk openly about these things BEFORE decisions need to be made.

BTW, your friend can get the discharge planner/social worker at the hospital to change to HH referral to another agency. She has a choice in this. Most people don’t care so they may assign on a rota. If she can’t manage him he may be able to get some rehab time for him after the hospital but since I’m retired have no idea about the situation with Covid.

You are a good friend.

And great job on the trial pack!! Is that baggie the kind with 3 zippers? I got a cute one at AAA that may be similar. I’m using it for my masks, a few latex gloves and a section for “used” masks.

We drove thru the southwest without AC. Caused a bit of a blip in our marriage, "You choose to not fix the AC????!!"

I have a bit of a health care background, more on the analytic side, but it can be handy. I am a big proponent of having friends/loved ones sign a HIPPA form. I have more power over my parents, husband and my adult children than friends, but I told them, I will not help if you do not sign a HIPPA release. Otherwise, I do not get a whole lot of cooperation from providers. A patient does have a choice over how much can be released. I tell the provider that I do not need or want details that do not pertain to the issue at hand. Best to have a release before there is a crisis. My daughter was seriously ill in a hospital in Iowa, not really able to make decisions, 5 hours a way and we couldn't get any information. Ended up working with her primary doctor at home who helped her and relayed information to us. When that episode was over, I got a stern call from his office to get a HIPPA release. She is now single and living in Hawaii. She sent me signed HIPPA forms!

You are a good friend, Kathy. Everyone should have a friend like you. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE my packing cubes. Didn't take them on our recent camping trip which was a super dumb move. I think they'd be even more handy for a camping trip.

Kathy, what can I say. These health roller coasters are so difficult and all too often one feels so helpless. You are a great friend, and will be able to help soon. Good luck to your friends and you.

I feel for your friend and hubby. Parkinson is a nasty disease.
Back in 1966 I endured an air condition less (in July) drive from Las Vegas to Phoenix. What made it worse was the adults in the front seat refused to let us open the windows because they did not want to let in hot air! They were not my parents. I thought I was going to die.
Congratulations on your packing breakthrough.

Wow, you are indeed a very good friend.

Oh my goodness Kathy. What a true true friend you are. Bless your poor friend and her husband. I am sorry you ended up not being able to go help them but you certainly went all out in trying.

Then the added trauma of a missed turn, lengthening your journey, and on top of that NO A/C in the desert??!!

And after all this, you are able to cheerfully relate your packing accomplishments. I need an attitude adjustment so I can keep a positive perspective like you!!

Glad you are back home safe and sound. Parkinson's is indeed a horrible disease, I am so sorry for your friend and her husband.

Oh, I am as so sorry about all of this, but kudos for the packing.

You're a good friend, and glad your packaging strategies worked out. Hope your friend's husband's health stabilizes soon. I agree with Pam that it is easier to discuss the kinds of decisions your friend may be facing before things are emotionally fraught. I found the book The Art of Dying Well by Katy Butler to give a lot of great guidance on planning for the end of life and care needs, if anyone might find that helpful.

Thank you for that recommendation, Sharon. We really learned with my father-in-law last spring that his wife and sons really didn’t know his wishes, so it was a good lesson to me to make sure that my brother and I take up the discussion with our parents - we have started the conversation but this reminds me there is more to do.

Hoping for strength for anyone in this kind of situation with a loved one.

When we were just at Craters of the Moon in Idaho, a woman interrupted our dinner asking for directions to Jackpot, Nevada. We didn't have any wifi or cell service. The only help I could give her was that she was in Idaho and not particularly close to the Nevada border. I still don't know where Jackpot is.

Again, thank you all. I didn't expect so many positive, supportive responses. You all are the best. We believe that this what good friends do to help each other. Years ago, hubby and I put our house on the market, then in the next three weeks we were both laid off from work and the house sold. No jobs, no house but a healthy bank account. We had a trip planned to Portland and decided to go anyway. Sitting in a bar in Vancouver, our best friend asked us if we needed money. I will always love him for that. Our families didn't ask or offer.

Pam and Jules, thank you for the hints to help maneuver though the health care system. I know very little about it but my hubby calls me a little bulldog when I need to get things done -- grab on and don't let go until it's resolved.

Sharon, the book sounds like one we need to read.

Kim, I have to fight my natural negative tendency to stay positive. After all, this crisis is out of my hands and control.

Jules, Jackpot NV is on Hwy 93 just south of the border from Idaho, first available casino. We stayed there twice driving from Las Vegas to Boise. We just needed a bed for the night. It's not somewhere I would make an effort to visit.

Kathy

"Jules, Jackpot NV is on Hwy 93 just south of the border from Idaho, first available casino. We stayed there twice driving from Las Vegas to Boise. We just needed a bed for the night. It's not somewhere I would make an effort to visit."

Hahaha!! SO true! There is, in fact, so little there that they have buses to transport employees from Twin Falls, 45 miles away, which is where most of them live.

Kathy - happy to help and yes sometimes it takes a bulldog. Let me know if I can help you in any way.

You're a great friend. Hopefully what goes around comes around when you're the one who needs help.

Kathy we all should have a friend like you! Echoing the importance of those documents and end of life conversations. Having lost both my parents to dementia and then a dear friend with dementia this year, I have learned the importance of crucial decisions being made and documented before they are needed. I would recommend this website for tips and information around having those difficult conversations - theconversationproject.org

Kudos to you for being able to put this experience into perspective and still keep your positive attitude, as well as entertaining all of us!

Moving off-topic: \

"Jules, Jackpot NV is on Hwy 93 just south of the border from Idaho, first available casino. We stayed there twice driving from Las Vegas to Boise. We just needed a bed for the night. It's not somewhere I would make an effort to visit."
Hahaha!! SO true! There is, in fact, so little there that they have buses to transport employees from Twin Falls, 45 miles away, which is where most of them live.

That all begins to change in a few months when Jackpot opens an official dispensary. The little town is trying to prioritize the expected tax windfall while Twin Falls tries to figure out where they will put all the kids they're going to arrest.

I really enjoy driving across the desert and I am more likely to take the Jordan Valley/Winnemucca/Reno route, especially if heading to San Francisco instead of Los Angeles.