Thanks everyone for all of the suggestions and feedback. It sounds like either the egg crate or memory foam would work, then a mattress pad goes on top of both and then the sheets. Cia1953: Good idea about the rental of the fridge+micro. As next year, most likely he’ll go in the apartment style housing I think he’ll need them only for one year. I’ve heard about the BB&B service which is really a great option for kids who fly in. As we live in Nor Cal. we plan to drive down for move-in day. Arcy: DS and I attended orientation last month and it seemed pretty much routine that everyone got the refrigerator and micro; though most likely I think he would purchase then in San Diego��"or rent like cia suggested. I’m not quite sure what you think is a luxury item, though. Certainly not the bedding? I got the impression from most kids we spoke with that the ref+micro was in lieu of a more expensive meal plan (which is how I see it for my DS too). Pudgeder: DS went to private high school so we’ve been using Amazon for years for textbooks, though the university was promoting their service where we pre-order books from them and they will deliver in a box to their dorm. I’m just wondering if his debit card works with Amazon or he should get his own credit card? Usually, he puts everything in the shopping cart, then I enter my CC and place the order, but I think he needs to have his own card to order books and stuff. Deborahnj: ha!ha! on the bed. I can totally see myself doing that too, making up his bed. We had a tour last month at orientation and DS spent a night in the dorms. The triple, like Ann mentioned, is really a double sized room, they added another bed to squeeze in more kids. So one side is bunk beds and the other a loft bed with desk below. Really no space at all. But they do have the common room that the 6 rooms in the suite all share. So, DS requested a single as he will still have lots of social opportunities since it’s a suite, but I’m not too optimistic he will get it. Betsy: Totally agree about the dark sheets and towels! Chefmom: Thanks for the list. I’ll check it out. Marie_cate: That’s exactly what the triples are like. One of the recommendations we’d heard, esp. if he is in a triple, is that they get one printer and share the cost of the ink. That is so inconsiderate, though, to use someone’s printer all year long without offering to share ink/paper costs, but I’m sure it happens all the time. Alku: I’ve seen the bed blocks at BB&B and great idea to store things below, but won’t work if he has a triple with the bunk and loft bed. I guess they have to bring a storage bin and store in the closet (which looked about 18” wide). Juliekmco: I saw the egg crate toppers at Target, good to hear your DDs liked them. I didn’t see the XL size, but I’ll check another location. Yikes, I guess I better decide soon before all the XL stuff is sold out. Lindac & Bestyears: Great list of repair/first aid. Definitely I’ll add that to the list. Divastyle: I’m sure your niece was thrilled with her dorm package. I’ve heard about the frequency of thefts so will talk with DS about some way to secure his valuables. I have some notes from orientation when campus police spoke to us….need to refer back to that. It was definitely a case of information overload. Annkathryn: Yes, that is what they have at UCSD. The triples were all originally doubles, so very tight quarters. When I was at BB&B they were also selling this room deodorizer; as my good friend whose DS goes there said the whole suite smells like a locker room! Guess most recommend a body pillow over the armchair type pillow? So far I bought him a comforter set with sheets, an extra set of sheets, 2 towels, 2 washcloths, 1 face towel. He’s telling me “Mom I won’t have a lot of space” But I figure you need one to use, one to wash.

I have my actual mattress encased in a zip up protector. On top of that I have the cuddlebed which is fairly thick, then I have my fitted sheet. I change the sheets at least once a week. I will from time to time when the sheets are off take the cuddlebed off and run it through the dryer no heat air fluff. It also gets washed on occasion, cold water wash gentle and air dry then I lay it over the back of the couch under the ceiling fans to finish drying and get air as close as I can get to line drying. It does not get dirty, oily, or have dust mites. It stays very clean with the sheet covering it.

We've found two -- both 2" gel infused, ventialted memory foam. We bought a 2" Linenspa Essentials from Overstock for our guest room after discovering the mattress we got didn't sleep anything like the one we'd laid on in the store too late to return it. When I actually tried to sleep on it one night, I woke up in pain several times and was embarrassed that my son's GF had tried to sleep on it. We first tried a 3" from Costco and it was too deep or too soft -- we didn't like that sinking feeling and effort to turn. Found the 2" and it is a game changer. They also have another Linenspa 2" that says it is a fast response foam -- I take that to mean it has a firmer feel. We got a 2" Surbtex from Amazon because we could return it if it didn't work (DH still hasn't done a test sleep in the guest room). Unlike the new but too hard guest mattress, our pillowtop is a bit compressed at all the pressure points and the 2" of firmer foam helps soften the pressure points and even out the mattress a bit so we can wait until we no longer have a senior dog sleeping on the bed (our lab is nearly 15-1/2). I like them both, but probably the Surbtex one a bit more. It is just slightly firmer. DH tends to sleep hot and he hasn't had an issue with it.

I think you should chastise your topper ... for having lost its capability before the "memory" function changed to being one of "memorial". Can you do some serious thinking to each find a friend, or a few, who would be willing to have you as an overnight guest every other night? That would enable you to take turns using the centre, almost entirely unweighted portion of the current topper every other night? If, using great stories and otherwise being greatly engaging, perhaps after you'd paid the price of a topper in rent, they'd have become so entranced by your stories and and generally happy-making behaviour, that they'd want to continue the arrangement, rent free! You'd have most of the wakeful day to spend with your spouse, of course. ole joyful