Shall we begin the countdown now?

So...
I plan to buy my plane ticket this month. I'm thinking very beginning of November. Then as cheap as I can, some traveling on the way home. I figure I have to get home somehow, so I can just take it a little slower. We'll see what happens.
Right now I'm just piled with work. I knew I'd be working on research, but gee whiz where'd all this other work come in. Good thing I have people to help and it will all be over before I can believe it.