Packing, packing, and more packing

My departure to Nicaragua is closely approaching, about 4 weeks until I say adios to the US; but my goodbye to Minnesota is coming even sooner. August 15 will be my official last day in Minnesota:( then it's off to Wisconsin for the last two weeks. For the next two weeks I won't be homeless, but I'll be rather possession-less. Even though I'll be living in my apartment in Minnesota until August 15, my mom and brother are coming up tomorrow to help me move most of my things out of my apartment and into her basement to be stored for the next two years. So I get two weeks on an air mattress and a duffel bag of clothes! YAY!
I'm really hating this process:
1) I'm a huge procrastinator, hence the reason I'm posting on my blog versus packing and cleaning my apartment. Also for this reason I can totally see myself waiting until the night before to pack for Nicaragua.
2) I like to be organized, so I would ideally like to have things that I'm taking to Nicaragua packed separately from things that I'm leaving behind; but see reason #1 and that explains the word ideally and how it most likely will not be organized.
3) And the biggest issue....What am I taking to Nicaragua? The things that I'm not taking, will I want them within the next 2 years? Will I want them when I return to the US? Am I really willing to get rid of everything to be totally possession-less upon return?
I've definitely been scaling down over the past few months, by donating or tossing out things that I don't need/use, and most of my furniture is being passed on to my brother (one of the reasons that my possessions are being moved out before me). So I really won't have all that much to store while I'm gone, but there are some things that I just can't seem to part with. It's not so much about my attachment to the things, it's more like a security blanket for me. I'm having a difficult time imagining myself returning from this experience with absolutely nothing and having to start completely from square one. It's not like I can't do it; I've done it before when I first moved out, and the thought of 'will I even want the things that I kept', has crossed my mind. I don't know, luckily I still have some time to answer the big packing questions.

P.S. It's even more official now. I've received my staging material and booked my flight to DC. I depart Madison, WI on August 30 for DC, then depart Washington DC on August 31 for Nicaragua.

Let the countdown begin....

48 days until departure....

I'm reading a really great book that I recommend to everyone, Do It Anyway: The New Generation of Activists by Courtney E. Martin. It's come at a perfect time and this excerpt is on the first page of the book.

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you.

Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others will destroy overnight.

Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today will often be forgotten.

Do good anyway.

Give the best you have and it will never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

- written on the wall in Mother Theresa's home for children in Calcutta

This is what I'll come back to every time I'm doubting myself and my efforts.