3 Things to do Before an Extended Trip
As I’m writing this, I’m dealing with mold in my closet, a broken fridge, and more… all of this after traveling for 3 months straight. The crazy thing is like responsible people, my partner and I had friends check in on our space. However, there are so many little things that you don’t think about that can lead to massive problems.
Slow travel is by definition, quite different from normal “vacation-ing”. Slow travel is about breaking down the superficial exploration that comes with vacationing, and dedicating longer periods of time to each destination to truly be able to explore a place and immerse in a culture. Unfortunately…and fortunately, that normally means being away from home for a month or longer. Having done multiple slow travel trips, these are the 3 things we’ve learned to do every single time.
Turn off water valves
This one is a huge one! The first international slow travel trip we did was a month and a half in Paris. It was incredible, but I was surprised to come home to a rather hefty water bill. Turns out our toilets had a leak during peak summer season in Texas, which meant we had to pay a pretty penny for water we didn’t use.
Moral of the story, take 5 minutes to run around your home and switch the valves on the pipes that go into appliances that don’t need to run when you are away such as toilets and washing machines. There’s no reason to come home to a water bill for water you didn’t even use!Don’t turn off your AC
Another thing I had to learn the hard way! Turning off your AC (or heating) if you live in extreme temperatures can lead to a myriad of issues. There are many things in your home that aren’t built to be extremely hot or cold, including crucial infrastructure. We leave our home in Texas at around 75 degrees when we are out of town!
Invest in a smart thermostat
Calling back to the beginning of this blog post… I had to learn the hard way that humidity is your home’s enemy. Running any sort of temperature control system can create unwanted moisture in small spaces. Leave all your doors open (closets, etc.) and invest in a smart thermostat such as a Nest to track your home’s humidity from wherever you are. If your humidity raises over 65%, it’s definitely cause for concern. 65% is prime breeding ground for mold, and can lead you to come home to some unwanted new tenants.
I know this wasn’t the sexiest post, but it’s some important logistics around slow travel that I’ve had to learn the hard way! I thought I’d share so nobody else has to learn by coming home to crazy water bills or mold! :)