Most Television 'cable' providers will suspend your account (for a nominal fee/month) for your travel time. Same with XM Satellite Radio in a vehicle you are not using, or at your home, while you travel. And also home phone service.
USPS will hold your mail for 30 days, then deliver to a specificied address. You can also have your mail forwarded But make sure it's clear with USPS that it's temporary, or they will begin notifying mailers of your "new" address.
Know your neighbors! So that in exchange for returning the favor, ask one you know well & trust if they will help (even for $), if you have no family in town who can. Many would be happy to hold a spare key to your house, watch your house, switch lights on/off (we now use timers inside & out), water your plants, drip water in case of freezing weather (If you live in the South - Northerners may have to winterize). We have a cleaning lady who will do this for a small payment. We have a neighbor who will pick up & hold our mail & grab our packages and then text us with a picture of the envelope if she thinks it might be important (of so, she opens & texts or scans & emails a copy of contents). She will even take care of our animals (but we usually take with us).
You can sign up with USPS to get daily notifications showing what mail you have ea. day. And activate notifications with shipping companies so you know when pkgs. are delivered (for neighbor pick-up or to UPS store box rental, where your mail can also go.)
Contact local police dept. with your schedule. Our district will send police to drive by & walk around our home while we are gone.
