<p>This turned out to be a lot easier than I thought it would be. We packed two medium-sized boxes using Space bags (I learned this tip from CC; they are the bags that you fill and then vacuum out the air). We were able to pack a featherbed, quilt, sheets, towels, clothing, and other accessories into those two boxes. We sent them to her dorm a week before her arrival and marked them “Hold for __”. She then flew out by herself (her choice) with a rolling suitcase (also packed with Space bags) and a carry on. For her first trip, she took a cab to the University, but she now takes the bus and has become a savvy traveler. We do use Southwest exclusively, and I keep “Ding” on my desktop to keep tabs on any special deals. I have sent her halfway across the country for $54 roundtrip, and you can’t beat that.</p>
<p>I have to agree with Alummother that getting a puppy is a great idea. We adopted a rescue dog and two kittens the summer before D left for college. They are keeping us busy, and we enjoy doting on our new furry children. But honestly, with IM, email and cell phones, it just doesn’t seem like D is that far away. One final tip: I downloaded one of the campus webcams and added it to my “favorites”. Each day, as I have my morning coffee, I go to the live picture, check to see if the sun is shining, and watch students heading to their classes. It’s almost like being there!</p>