Happy Holidays! (a.k.a. Transition Week)

Time to focus this blog squarely on THE HIKE.  I've been home a week.  During that time, I settled my stuff into the place and reconnected with some family and old friends.  I opened a local checking account... considering the closest branch of my current bank is over 100 miles away.  I initiated my gym membership (thanks Mom & Dad) and set up a personal training session...  Latitude Sports Club on Rt. 1 in Peabody.  The place is mammoth. I have a plan in place for training that begins this week and I'm hoping my trainer, Robert... a former Laguna Beach resident will have some good insights. More on that in a later post.

I was approved for individual health insurance back in California.  I'm still and will remain a California resident throughout my "visit" to Mass and the whole hike, so I got rates about 60% cheaper than I would if I had switched my residency to Mass... unbelievable.

Santa was helpful too... He got me a food dehydrator, a hike planning book (already read cover-to-cover) an REI gift card and some helpful trinkets for the hike.  Let the food preparations begin.  Also, more on that later!

That's enough for now... Happy New Year! It's going to be a great one!