The Last Times (A Tribute), originally uploaded by LeeLeFever_TwinF.

A year of travel means a year of wonderful experiences - but also a year of routine, routine that lives inside a backpack.

This morning was the last time we'll do our routine, and quite thankfully so. These are some of the things I will not miss:

Waking to thoughts of yet another continental breakfast, or finding food otherwise.
Waking sore from lead-filled pillows and matresses like sleeping bags.
Waking with thoughts of missing a train or plane
Putting on clothes that didn't dry completely from the hand washing the night before
Brushing teeth with questionable water or bottled water
Brushing teeth with Japanese toothpaste (a long story).
Sharing deoderant with my wife
Deciding if shower shoes are needed for the shower
Figuring out another shower system
Using crappy hotel soap
Applying sunscreen and/or bug spray
Being at the mercy of tempermental climate control
Unplugging gadgets and packing them away.
Saying screw it and wearing the socks for a third day.
Dressing in the same 3 shirts and single pair of shoes
Losing the padlock again
Packing the backpack for the 200th time
Unpacking the backpack to retrieve a missing item
Consulting a map before leaving the room

And finally, I will not miss the feeling of having to think ahead about where we will go, how we will get there, how much it will cost and how long we will stay. I look forward, quite excitedly, to a home life with more knowns than unknowns. Home is going to feel so very good.