Great suggestions Empress (and I LOVE my crockpot)! I am about to be in this boat too. Hubby has been in school the past two years and I am returning to the hallowed halls of grad student-dom in the fall. One good thing is that mine are now at the age that I can give them things to do and turn them loose to do them. Still it's going to be an adjustment all around and require some seriously creative use of my time. Good luck!