We have been without internet for more than a week. We moved out of town. I’ve had a horrible cold. True stories all. So while I may have an abundance of excuses, I really did intend to blog more. It just didn’t happen.
So here’s a little about our move because it was epic (not in a good way really) and because I’m still processing it. But you may find parts amusing.
We had record high temperatures for the day of our move and you don’t want that to happen in Redding, CA! It’s hot there anyway… But on our moving day it was 90 degrees by 8am, and 110 for the high. It felt hotter. I don’t say this lightly because I’m fairly used to 110 degree weather. Now this is our 3rd move in the summer in Redding, which means that we reeeeally need to get our heads examined.
My husband drove the moving truck with a trailer hauling his pick up. I’m really glad that I didn’t have that job! And his brother drove our car that doesn’t have AC. I’m really glad that I didn’t have that job either. But I did have the job of driving 3 kids and 2 cats in a sedan for 2 1/2 hours by myself. This feat included near constant meowing, horrible traffic due to a semi truck fire, and mercifully a few naps for the children and cats.
Our house that we moved out of, and were selling, was broken into the next day. It’s not as bad as it sounds though because the criminals were actually our home buyers. They broke into the house before the sale was official and began moving their things into the yard and garage. I don’t really know what to think about this. I am still wondering what on earth they could have been thinking. I like to tell myself that it’s all over now. The house is sold. It makes a good story. Water under the bridge. But really, what on earth?!
We are moving our family of 5 into a 2 bedroom apartment temporarily. Over the next 6 months I may come up with more creative storage solutions than ever before in my life. We have downsized from 11 kitchen drawers, to 2 kitchen drawers. I have to admit I was a little bit scared to open the box I had packed my old junk drawer into. But never fear, IKEA is near now. We have already gotten rid of many things and I really enjoy living simply so I love this challenge! Really, I do. While we left our riding lawnmower and sold or gave away many other things, there MIGHT still be a plow attachment and disassembled swing set, a wheel barrow, lumber and wood working tools, and car parts and tools for our cars that still need some tinkering. This is all stashed in a rented garage at the moment. I don’t know what we are thinking. But this may be the last time in our lives that we’d logistically fit into an apartment. While a place with a few acres for gardens, fruit trees, and animals and a workshop or two is probably in our future, for now calling maintenance, swimming in the apartment pool, and playing on the playground outside our door has its perks. It is an interesting transition time and we are all hanging in there.
The related lack of sleep, abundance of stress, and extreme exertion made me an easy target to get completely taken down by a cold. I have spent much of the last week dosing off in a chair due to coughing fits that occur if I do more than think about getting up. The mountains of boxes do not make a scenic view. I guess I thought after 8 moves in 10 years, including several long distance ones (one quite literally coast to coast), I was fairly well qualified to move. But either it’s my advancing age (30 years) or the accompanying wisdom that gives me new insight. I think I can do better. Next time I want to hire someone!
That’s almost it. I’m sparing you the more boring and terrifying details of the ordeal we’ve been going through. I was so thankful to have a few friends show up and save my life just by being there with me in this. It’s in your darkest moments (and moving is just always one of those it seems) when a friend can mean the world. I’ll share some more later about my quest to turn our little space into our home… maybe when the last of the boxes are unpacked. 😉
