If I were concerned about the mail, I would get a box at nearby UPS store, and discuss with my postmaster forwarding all first and second class mail to that box. Then I wouldn't have to notify anybody of anything and PO wouldn't have to hold my mail.
The UPS store will accumulate your mail, you call in and give them an address (Usually General Delivery at PO where you will be for a couple of days), they box it up and ship it. Be SURE to check with receiving PO about Gen Del because not all POs do it and big POs can lose your stuf. Best is a small, relatively isolated PO and you are a face they have at least met once.
Reason for discussing forwarding with home postmaster is that on-flle forwarding has a limited life, measured in months and you may be wanting them to extend it.
Some POs in the North have an unofficial forwarding system called Snowbird Service where your mail can be forwarded to one address you specify, like an RV park in Florida for the winter.
If you go with Escapees or something like that, you will have to notify everybody before you leave and again when you get back.
BTW, you CANNOT give change of address form to USPS to change from a commercial address because PO doesn't sort the mail, they do, and to PO it's all one address. I had a heck of a problem when a small mail company I was using went out of business!!!
ON EDIT: It doesn't have to be a UPS store, just a commercial mail service. I DO have stock in UPS, FedEx and Airborne Express.
|