Vibram says no...

So just as I was sitting here this morning struggling with budgets and whether I should really take a sleeping bag or not (given warm temperatures), Vibram comes back with a resounding no.  There was no reason given, but I would imagine my project may just be way to complicated for them or that there is perhaps not nearly enough guaranteed exposure.  Doesn't matter... sad day.  How do I get my hands on a couple of pairs of Vibrams without having to pay $200??  Maybe I can try to get them at cost from somewhere but I just simply can't afford any of this.  My budget has gone up and the expected funding has gone down.

Starting to seem like its kinda far away...

I also got an email back from my contact at Zain telecom in Sierra Leone.  I had asked for a list phones that would work with their services and what/if I could buy there.  They said that they don't have anything there that would do what I want to do but they support service for internet and such.  I was recommended the Nokia 'N' series or a Blackberry.  Now again, I am not comfortable with what I've heard about Blackberry, and also have had Nokia in the past and been very happy with them.  But I would be looking at $400 for a phone of that sort as opposed to the $200 budgeted.  Then there is the computer to factor in to this budget line.  As my brother said: "you have to have one, before, after, doesn't matter... you can't work without one."  I can get a discount on a netbook through my father.  This makes it at a good price, but I am now to the point where if I buy a phone I can't even pay for a computer at a discount.

I have also just heard that the Vaccinations are $330 for the recommended ones.  I can get the Yellow Fever vaccination for $95 total.  At what point do I start making decisions based upon this?  Hepatitis A/B, Typhoid, etc...  They are important, but are 'precautions' I may never need.  Are they more important than shoes or everyday sleeping?

So here I am, to the point where I am being forced to make decisions about cutting things like sleeping bags.  Should I be taking another pair of shoes or a sleeping bag or getting vaccinations.  How do you prioritize necessities?  The cost of this trip has now gone up by over $1300 from my original estimations.  The issue is, that when I decided to do this I was just going to go.  Grab a few things - I had a backpack, I had clothes, I had 'stuff' and would manage.  I've survived for years without all this technical 'stuff'.  But now that I am 'planning' everything, everything can be done easier, everything can be lighter, and faster, and 'better'.  And everyone is telling me "you'll buy this and it'll last 15 years" or "The trip will go so much better if you are comfortable".  They are right, it all will.  But its adding up.  A backpack, vaccinations, waiting out the rainy season in New York, extra shoes, better sleeping bags, whatever.  What to do?!?  Amazing how the cost of 'slumming it' just seems to rise...  :-/