I don't know if I really feel like this was a success, because it still hasn't registered inside. However, last weekend I left home for the first time since October of 2003 and actually stayed away for 4 days.
Our home was right in the path of Hurricane Charley, and we were left without phone or power for 4 days (no other damage, though). Getting through the night of the storm without totally losing it was a success in itself I guess. At one point in the storm a police officer sent me into a panic when he told us our neighbor had a "huge" propane leak and we may need to evacuate. I was so not ready to leave the house, especially to go riding in a hurricane. Fortunately, they capped off the leak and we spent the night at home.
Then the next day we found out power would not be restored for several days, so my sister's family invited us to stay with them. I get heat exhaustion very easily and it was going to be a hot day without air conditioning, so I really had no other choice but to go. Since my sister is well- acquainted with anxiety disorders it was probably the best place I could have gone if I had to go somewhere. I got through the four days in a strange place (I'd never been to my sister's house before), and except for a bit of a sleep deficit I made it through fairly well. I didn't even feel carsick on my way there and back. I was so glad to get home, though.
