trip prep continues

I went to the bank today and wired myself $3000 for use in my US account. I arrive in Virginia on the night of the 24th (local date/time); I'll stay overnight with my buddy Mike in Fredericksburg, then we'll hit an in-town PNC Bank the next day (the 25th), where I hope to pick up a debit card directly from the bank. Mike and I will then visit a local car-rental place, and I'll rent a car. After that, I'll drive out to my Best Western, which isn't too far from Front Royal, and the following morning (the 26th), at 8:15 a.m., I'll have my Front Royal DMV appointment to renew my driver's license (scheduled per Mike's advice). Before that appointment, Mike will have given me a lease agreement that I'll probably need to sign beforehand; the purpose of this agreement is to give me a real-world address and proof of residence; a lot of services and institutions don't accept "virtual" addresses for Americans with overseas residences. Mike also thinks I might be interested in getting a "Real ID," which is a measure being used by different states as a firmer proof of citizenship and residence. It apparently looks like a hologram on your license and once "regulations go into effect" (Mike's words), travelling domestically (by plane, I assume) will require either a Real ID or a passport(!). I initially rejected the idea of getting a Real ID, but I'm now thinking I might want to jump through the extra hoops to get one. I hope my lease agreement will be enough of a proof of residence for it. If not, I'm fine traveling the US with a passport.

I'm still debating whether I need more than a carry-on. I'll be carting over some gifts for Mike's family, but will they take up that much space in my backpack? I'm planning to fly with the same backpack I use when doing long walks these days: it's a large, black, squarish backpack, but small by the standards of my Gregory Baltoro 85 (85-liter capacity, which I use only when I know I'm camping; I bring along a shelter and other camping-related gear). I'm thinking it ought to be enough to hold everything as long as I bring nothing seriously bulky (like my new rain jacket/windbreaker, a gift from the boss last year). My MacBook Air won't take up much space; I just have to remember to keep it and my other electronics out and ready for security inspection before I can go to my departure gate at the airport.

I'll be buying a good bit of stuff when I get to the States (I have an ever-growing shopping list). The plan for that stuff is to box it up and send it to Seoul... but if it's under 50 pounds, I might just check it in with me for the flight back. And I'll try not to pack my passport into the package this time. Poor Mike; last time I did that, he ended up driving all over Virginia in a vain attempt to catch my package before it flew overseas, but for whatever reason, the US mail service was unwontedly prompt in sending my stuff out; my package went out without delay, and I had to resort to some sort of emergency document to be able to fly home. My boss here in Seoul laughingly gave me all sorts of shit about my mistake, which I had to endure with eye-rolling patience (or impatience). Lessons learned.