1. We didn’t have to break the bank by buying all those “starter” supplies for his dorm room. (Only new purchases: a floor lamp and a vacuum cleaner.  I suspect the former will be used more often than the latter.)

2. Boy didn’t flunk out his freshman year, so chances are good that he won’t flunk out his sophomore year.

3. Assuming number 2 holds true, we have only 3, not 4, years’ worth of tuition and room and board left to pay!

4. We know now that the water bill is 50 percent lower when he is gone.

5. We know now that the grocery bill is 50 percent lower when he is gone.

6. We know now that the noise level is 50 percent lower when he is gone.

7. We don’t have to have that awkward “Say No To Drugs/Practice Safe Sex” talk again.

8. He has proven that he can make new friends, so I know he won’t be sad and lonely.

9. Husband and I discovered that the Empty Nest is not so bad after all.  I know we won’t be sad and lonely.

 ̶1̶0̶.̶ ̶I̶ ̶d̶o̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶n̶a̶g̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶s̶t̶a̶r̶t̶ ̶p̶a̶c̶k̶i̶n̶g̶.̶