I get to go on vacation!

Bwhahaha that would be excellent!

Have a great time!

 That's awesome! Not only a vacation but a free one! Can't get any more fun!

 Oh you lucky girl!  You need this so go and have a blast.  Don't forget heating pad, pain pills whatever while you are away fom home.  Like I need to tell you what to pack...........Jane

Oh, I might need help figuring out what to pack!  The real challenge is to figure out how to fit it all in one suitcase if at all possible.  I think we will be staying for five nights, and I may drive to my sister's the day before we leave and spend the night there because I think she'll want to leave early in the morning and I live almost three hours away from her.  So I need stuff for about a week.

Of course I need clothes, although I think all I'll need is shorts and tee shirts, so they don't take up a lot of room.  I need my toothbrush and shampoo and that stuff.  I need my meds and vitamins, which take up some space.  I have to take  maxipads because I ALWAYS get my period when I go on trips because the universe just hates me that way.  I will take the heating pad.  I have to take a portable CD player with headphones and lots of batteries and something to listen to because I have so much trouble sleeping and I will be sharing a room with other people so I need something I can do quietly in the dark when I can't sleep so at least they can.

I can actually get all that into a suitcase.  But then there is food.  Protein powder, soy milk, protein bars, whatever else I decide I need.  And I need some snacks for the car because I need to eat every few hours or my blood sugar gets low.  I end up with enough luggage for about three people, just for my stuff.

We stay in military lodging a lot and have never stayed in one without a fridge.  You can call and ask.  The number should be on-line.  Some bases have family lodging that the nephew needs to ask for if he doesn't know to (I think I understood you will be in military  lodging). We recently stayed in one that was a 2 room suite and another that had 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, small living room / kitchen combo.  That one was especially nice since we had five people.  One room had twin beds. The other two had queen beds.  Each room always has it's own T.V. and DVD player.  All the ones we've stayed in supplies shampoo/soap just like a regular motel but I usually take my own because I like liquid dial.  I pack a lot like you do.  I try to pack light but all my extra stuff takes up room.  I take ear plugs because I am a very light sleeper.  Your nephew can get you a guest pass to the commissary as long as he is the one that pays out.  You could buy your yogurt, fruit  and such there or go to one of the local groceries.  I hope you enjoy your experience.  My daughter will be leaving soon as her husband returns from Iraq and they are going to Shaw AFB , S.C.  We look forward to driving from West Texas to S. C. and then the surrounding area.  We are leaving Friday for a 3 wk camping trip and I don't know how my husband is going to get all our stuff in the SUV.  Each trip he does but each trip we take more.  I added my own large cot with pad this trip hoping my back will be happy.  Had an injection in the back yesterday and in my knees today trying to get the body ready to cope with the 12 hour drive.  HAVE FUN!

What my sister told me was that there is a  hotel on the base that families can stay at.  I'll get more info from her before we go and find out if there will be a fridge in the room.  I hadn't thought about shopping at the commissary, but that's a good option.  I don't think I'll have trouble finding a place to buy what I need when I'm there.

I'm not sure how long the drive is.  I think it will be about 10 or 11 hours.  I'm not sure how my back will do for that long in the car, either.  I plan to take my Vicodin with me!

Our family members love to see what our military ammenities are like when they come to visit so we take them for a tour.  They like to see our Commissary and BX plus dine on base for a meal and see a movie at the base theater.  The kids got to swim at the pool and do various things.  My mother was so happy (she is deceased now)  to see our military communities because she was always worried about "were we making it okay" because she would read in the news sources things like "military families live in poverty and all are on foodstamps".   My husband was enlisted and the news statements were not true for us.  We were not rich by any means but we were happy, clothed and fed with a roof over our heads.   I would tell her we were fine but she had to see it for herself.  My grown children miss the life.  I am really happy for you!  I love the adventure of travel.

I so miss the beach. I just moved from NC to ND back in 2010. I've lived in NC all my life up to that point. We used to live about 30 mins from Fort Bragg. We normally would go to Ocean Isle Beach every summer. I like it there, its alittle less crowded than some of the other beaches we've been too & really nice. I hope you have a great & safe trip. I hope you can enjoy your time with as little pain as possible.