Easier for a sailor that goes on cruises to have the spouse take care of everything. I took care of stuff for a friend of ours a few times as well. Power of Attorney to deal with anything.
$6 gets me one of those huge plastic bottles that hold like a quart of bay leaves at one of the Asian stores. I probably need to replace it. Whats left is a couple years old now. I don't nornally buy herbs and spices at grocery stores. If I do it's bulk at Winco. Prices for bottles is highway...
East side of the Cascades is desert or slightly wetter Blue Mountains. West side is wet normally. The rainshadows make big differences
Im D2 as well here. Only about an hour north of the Oregon/Washington border.