pre-trip rituals

Calling them rituals is a stretch. Many of the things on this list I often, but not always do. Does that qualify them as ritual?

-recharge all batteries (camera, mp3 player, gps, etc)

-clean apartment

-cut hair

-drink tonic water (for the quinines)

-listen to Voice of America webcasts in the language of the destination

-practice walking around in the dark (for non-electricity environments)

-stay up really, really late, so I can sleep on the plane

-fill up gas tank (leaving your gas tank almost empty for a long period allows fuel evaporation which changes the composition of the fuel, and results in harder starting)

-sort through my ziplock bags of world currencies

-buy a couple of used paperbacks (tom clancy, or a near fascimile)

-sit on my balcony late at night and contemplate (if it's warm enough)