It takes a week to ten days for forwarding to start and then there might be some bumpiness while it unforwards. I'd have them hold it, maybe see if you can get someone to pick it up for you [ask the PO how to do that] and they could send you a care package of your mail? If they hold it, it's just in a box at the PO and they'll give it to you in a big stack [or deliver it in a big pile] when you get back. I have them do this for me all the time, it's a pretty standard service.

Hmmm, holding sounds like the way to go then- I figured forwarding could get a little bumpy. I had my mail forwarded from my old place when I moved, but not everything forwarded, including several rather important credit card statements.

I think there's more risk with forwarding, just because the mail has to move more times.

Can you set up some online bill-pay accounts before you go so you don't have to worry about that? I don't like auto-debit arrangements, so I don't do them, but I do like online billpay. You can do it anytime from anywhere.

You can also view statements online and pay them that way. I don't get a single paper statement even when I am at home.

Holding mail is the shizzle. Fowarding always seems to get jacked up.

I often ask the USPS to hold my mail but I've only been away for a week or two at a time. And since it's just for a week or two, I have them deliver it to my house on the end date.

Since you'll be gone for so long, you might want to consider the pickup option. The way I've always figured it, it can't get any more lost than it was going to before.

Forwarding is a major pita. Sometimes things get returned to sender with a notice of the forwarding address, and then the sender changes your address in their system. This can take months to figure out what happened and then straightening it out.

Thanks all, you've helped me deciding on mail holding. Thankfully, I don't expect to receive anything I would need while I'm gone (except a lot of Christmas cards, which I dont' want to miss)- I don't pay any bills via mail, I do it all online. I just don't want anything I do get with personal information on it sitting outside in plain view of anyone who happens to be walking by.

No, GET SEVEN CHICKENS

DO NOT FORWARD YOU MAIL!! I forwarded my mail after Katrina to my dad's place and it took forever to get them to cancel the forward after I was back in my house. It is a big pain in the butt and not worth it. Never again.

I heard they hold it in their pants. And when you get it back it's still warm and slightly sweaty.