The Reality.....

Looking back, I can see I had no idea how hard it would be to move this time. I don't mean the difficulty of trying to pack everything and then trying to squeeze 4,000 square feet of 'stuff' into a 1,000 square foot condo. That, too, but what was (is?) difficult is the emotion. That is what I am writing about. I kept saying to well-meaning folks who would say, "Well, in the long run, you'll be happier in a smaller place" and I'd say, "If I can get past the emotion, yes, no doubt that will be true." I had no idea.

I did pretty well with being numb and worn out with all the packing. I didn't have to think. But the two nights that overlapped with our son, his wife and their four children when they had to move everything from their large home into ours for a temporary home, it was getting very 'close to home.' Two nights left to sleep in our home. Then one night.

I did pretty well when the family came after telling their home good-bye: Kids in tears, etc. Hearing how it was......

I did pretty well on the day of the move, trying to get through the rooms that were filled with two households of belongings; their beds being set up and their things brought in; our beds being taken apart; boxes being loaded in the trucks and trailer, etc.

Finally driving away that evening (husband in his truck; me alone in the car), I really felt the sadness descend like a blanket. And coming into a strange, now-overloaded, chaotic mini-dwelling it truly hit me. That Saturday night was one of the most difficult I have experienced in recent years. I truly didn't know if I'd ever recover. I know some of it was utter fatigue, but most of it was the utter sense of loss.

We don't like to think things mean so much to us. We try to think we are "deeper" beings than that, but the bitter truth is, we enjoy creature comforts. We don't like change. We like what is familiar.

I realize how spoiled I've been especially the past eight-plus years. Everything was still new and large and comfortable. We made a good living; things were good. Until things became bad....and that is when this all started.

Our 'new' living space is so small. There aren't enough cupboards. We are surrounded by other tenants, above us and on each side.

Many bags of stuff have been put in the trash bins; many boxes are going to the Goodwill store.
But we have everything we need. This is comfortable enough. I can help pick up the grandkids at their school, especially now that they live several miles from the school, which of course, is temporary.

But isn't this all just temporary?

This is the part that is the hardest to leave.....where I pray, read and knit....

Can't even take the chair; it is too big...

Last week at 'home'

I am finishing the packing in the kitchen now. This is the beginning of our last week at our home here. Son, wife and children, due to loss of their home also, are moving in to 'camp out' here while they try to find something big enough that they can afford for a family of six. It gives me comfort to know some of our family will still be in the house. We have no idea how long it will be in our name. It was just time for us to move on; being in limbo, not knowing when we'd have to move, for two years is long enough.
So this is the week to change the address for our mail, move our electric and gas, turn off the phone here, stop the newspaper, etc. I am winding down the packing; just things on the walls and accessories are mostly what are left and I will take them in our car as it is only 10 miles. There are boxes and boxes and boxes already packed though just to make it easier to transfer our 'stuff.' Husband doesn't pack. I do it. Well, a couple of my dear friends came one morning and helped with the china cabinet and I appreciate that a lot!
My schedule goes something like this for the week: Monday: Wash throw rugs, all sheets, start putting our clothes in wardrobe boxes for easier moving, clean showers, wrap white chairs and couch with sheets for moving. Arrange lamps and pictures together to take in the car.
Tuesday: vacuum under and behind beds before they are dismantled for moving. Load all pantry goods into big plastic containers, empty bathrooms of decoration and remaining items that aren't packed already. Wednesday: Spot clean carpets, scrub toilets, empty dresser drawers into suitcases for easy transport. Finish all unfinished packing. Thursday: We get our keys and sign the 6-month contract for the townhouse. Start moving boxes. (Who knows how much we'll get moved that first day). Friday: Internet is transferred from here to the new place in the afternoon, so 2 or 3 hours will be spent just waiting for the internet company.......Thank goodness for a grandson who will get all of that connected again!
When will we actually spend our first night in the 'new' place? Anyone's guess. We will be overlapped here with son, wife and grandkids for a couple nights but that is fine. And who knows how it will really go. This is just an outline or plan............

New scarf........

8 days and counting

Cuisnart food processor goes to Hope Industries, 35 year old mixer/meat grinder/blender goes there too. (It still works!) Sentimental things going either in the trash or to the Hope truck. Lots of old coffee going in the trash, flatware narrowed down to Silverplate and everyday stainless steel. Tupperware in the trash......... Making life simple for the next abode. Not thinking about the things that are being thrown away. There will be time later for that.......

New Address

So we took the plunge, applied for a 2-bedroom townhouse and were accepted. We can start moving items in on Oct. 1. Our house still hasn't sold, but we won't be allowed to stay here forever and a suitable place became available, so that will be our new home.....temporarily.

I am too numb and tired to really express how I feel. I suppose I could cry over all the changes this year has brought, but what good would it do. I am sure when I leave here for the last time, it will be a bit of death, but must move on to what life is holding out.........

'My Baby's' last night at home....

Sold. $3500. Eight years old...... Like new. Used excessively.