Wow, what a whirlwind couple of weeks. After a week in D.C., we jumped waist-deep into the moving mode. Even after our fourteen moves in the Air Force, the actual move week is always busy, tiring and a little nerve-wracking. You never get completely comfortable watching total strangers touch, pick up, and pack everything you own, even thought you know they are professionals and not only take great pride in their work, but also are very careful with your stuff.
The process started with a small truck filled with empty boxes, paper, tape and other packing supplies. Pretty soon there were piles of boxes everywhere. Things actually seemed to go pretty smoothly and they were done in a day. As has been our experience, they saved the garage till last, and that they always seem to rush through. After they departed, we were left with stacks of boxes everywhere so we finished with a quick walk around and slept our last night in the house. Day two brought the BIG truck and the emptying of the house.
That was a lot of lifting, carting and carrying. It was a cold day, with a high of about 21 degrees! Doors open all day and a nice breeze to help us remember what cold weather is. The sun was out though so at least is looked warm out. But they knew what they were doing and were done before dark. So here we are again, with everything we own except for the clothes on our back, boxed, crated, and loaded up into a semi-trailer hauled off to some warehouse somewhere. If that doesn’t reinforce that the things we own are just stuff, not sure what does. After spending the evening loading up the motorhome, and cleaning, we waltzed down to our sister’s house to mooch one last warm meal and place to sleep. Even got in one last game of cards.
Leaving Fontanelle has been a roller-coaster of emotion for us. We are so glad to have sold our house to our niece and her family. The house is made for a family and it will be wonderful to have it filled with one. We really loved living in Fontanelle, but have been equally excited to be on yet another adventure. Guess the wanderlust in us never really goes away.
Our departure Friday morning was on a clear, crisp and cold December morning. It really was a nice winter day; sun out, no wind, clear skies. But cold!!!! 19 degrees on the bank thermometer as we drove out.
Of all the times to get out on the road, we had to pick the first major winter cold system of the year that moved through the entire mid-west. Our thought of driving south until we got out of the overnight freezing was a great idea, only problem was it was freezing all the way to south Texas. They even had snow over the weekend in the Rio Grande Valley. So we just toughed it out, knowing that the days of freezing temps were going to be a thing of the past for us pretty soon.
As I write this we are now settled in our motorhome here in Tucson as we await the completion of our new home.
Interesting blog and new to us. We’ve only had one move since building our home back in 1976. You guys seem to have things down pat! Thanks for sharing