Casualties of Moving- #135

We have just over two weeks before we start our week long trek to our new home in Cypress, Texas. We have a lot of mixed emotions. As we meet up with and hug friends and family goodbye - it is very sad for us; we don’t know when or if we will ever see them again. 

This morning I mapped out our travel; it will actually take us a week going at our usual pace. Depending on when our motorcycle is loaded onto the transport will dictate when we actually leave. Once that is secured, we should have everything ready to just jump into our truck and get on the road. 

We continue to make progress with our packing. Charlie was able to get 40 boxes from a local supermarket ( flattened) and we’ve been reassembling, taping and filling them. We’ve actually done more than I thought but we have the time and the boxes. I will probably leave just a few fragile items and my large canvas pictures for the movers to professionally pack. 

  

This past week, Brooke, Rakib and the kids have been vacationing in Cancun. They too had a trip previously planned and paid for. This was a nice break for us.  We’ve really enjoyed hanging out upstairs - especially since our apartment looks like a warehouse. 

Today I parted with my little Honda Fit. I really loved that little car, but it just didn’t make sense to keep it. I feel good about the decision and was pleased with the amount I received and the quick turnaround from CarMax. I generally don’t mind driving the truck and eventually we will probably trade it in for another smaller vehicle when the time is right. We’ve needed it to tow our travel trailer; we are now trying to decide if we will continue to travel to Mississippi after this winter as Cypress has basically the same weather; the drive will only be about 400 miles now. So, we are thinking of letting our trailer go after this year. It doesn’t mean we won’t travel, we’ll just stay in air b&bs or hotels or cabins - or cruise!! Lots to consider. 

I found the Stoughton Buy Nothing page on Facebook a very useful tool in giving away many items. Charlie finally let go of his PA System and Amps; they were very large, heavy and essential pieces from back in his band days. I know it was hard for him to part with them; it’s like letting go of a piece of your life, but it really was necessary.  Happily, a church group will be using these for their services.  

We still have a few more appointments left; service for our truck, Minnie back to the vet for bloodwork, Charlie to the eye doctor.  I’ve been trying to get my annual physical rescheduled before we go and am on a waiting list but it doesn’t look like that will happen. On the Texas side, we do have new medical insurance that will begin 9/1 and a new primary care physician.  

In another week, Jason, Charlie’s son, will be coming from his home in Westfield and taking a lot of things; our fishing boat, jeweler’s bench that belonged to his grandfather, our catio - which he’ll be able to use for his new cat - and a few additional odds and ends.  

I am getting anxious to see our new home … that time will be here before we know it! 

Packing - #134

From time to time I have a night I can’t sleep. Today is one of those. Mostly it’s because Charlie is sick and I worry about him getting pneumonia, due to his COPD. I listen to his rough breathing and coughing during the night- it keeps me up. I made an appointment for urgent care to see him today; he doesn’t know it yet. Update: his lungs were clear, just needed some antibiotic for the congestion and something for the cough.

Since we left and returned home from our trip a lot has happened. Firstly, our house was sold. The day after the open house, the kids received 5 offers; one really good one in line with what they were actually looking for, money wise. I was so happy for them! Then they put in an offer on another house they liked in Cypress (we liked it too) and it was accepted! With a closing on our house July 30th, closing on the Cypress house July 31st - we are moving right along - at warp speed! 

 New Main House Cypress

Our Guest House Cypress

In a few short days, I have made a lot of packing progress. If you’ve ever witnessed the harvesting of cranberries- first the bogs are filled with water to loosen and allow the berries to float to the surface; then they are corralled and pulled closer and closer together until they reach a point where they can be sucked up and dispersed into big dump trucks to be taken to processing.

 

That is like my packing M.O.  All the pictures off the walls first (and I had a lot of them!), I spackled the holes as I went along. Then I packed excess clothes we wouldn’t be needing in suitcases. I packed our travel bags for when we get on the road to drive to our new home. Gradually, one area at a time, labeling boxes, moving things to the kitchen counter for the movers to pack, if I don’t get to it first. Putting aside things we will take in our truck; arranging to give things away to family and friends, or to donate. With an approximate move date of 7/27 - we should be able to get this done easy and stress free. Probably the biggest issue will be Charlie’s shed - although we are making progress with that as well. 

I still find myself weeding the gardens, watering and tending to my flowers that will stay. I hope we have the opportunity to use the pool before we go too! I have enjoyed this property very much and over the years have invested a lot of time keeping things up. I understand our new place is a nice property as well and includes a coy pond! 

Besides the packing, we have dr appointments, selling my car, arranging for new insurance and drs down in Texas. It’s definitely a process. 

Today was also a very sad day for our family. My grand-kitty Punim (Pupu) came to the end of her life. She would have been 20 years old next week; she was a pretty old lady. Over the past few months, Pupu had a tumor growing inside her mouth and although she still pushed through, it was obvious she was having a tough time. I’m proud of Brooke for making this very difficult decision; she had Punim half her life! We will definitely miss her. 

Well, the sun is up now. I hear the sprinkler system going. I guess I’ll put on some coffee. I’ll probably take a nap later. 

Our Bus Trip To South Dakota - #133

Right in the middle of everything going on at home; getting ready to sell the house, preparing to move to Texas, and then being diagnosed with Lyme and Babesiosis again- we had an 11 day bus tour planned to South Dakota. This actually turned out to be the best thing for us - getting away from the stress and craziness of the open house weekend and just having our minds on something else besides this giant task before us. And so here we are, the last day into our tour and really enjoying this special trip. 

We left early on June 19th - a group of about 50 heading west. Our first day was a travel day with many stops ( every 2-2-1/2 hours). It took a bit to make our space on the bus comfortable; I felt it was very tight for a trip where you spent so much time on the bus.  If at 5’2” my knees touched the seat in front of me - that’s not exactly spacious. But, once I adjusted my seat, removed any excess we didn’t need in the seats with us (we had an overhead compartment to keep things too) we felt better.  The total mileage to South Dakota is about 2000 miles; this was broken up over 4 days. Each day after the first, we had a small excursion- a museum or roadside attraction, that helped to break up the 500 mile leg. This was definitely helpful on this long journey but also made for a really long day. We stopped for lunch at various locations- malls, travel stops, etc… I tend to bring a good amount of food with us - peanut butter, crackers, baby bel cheese, fruit - it’s not so much the extra cost as it’s just the amount of food you could consume eating three meals a day at restaurants when doing a lot of sitting. Sometimes if there wasn’t a place to picnic, we would just browse the shops and have lunch back on the bus. Many of us took walks on all our stops to get our bodies moving;  At night, I was exhausted and would just shower and fall into bed. On occasion I would use the fitness rooms at the hotels if I had the energy. Our daily breakfast was provided by the hotel. Usually I had a half cup of coffee, eggs, piece of toast and yogurt ( I have to take care of my gut with the meds I’m taking) I also need to eat before I take my Lyme/Babesiosis medicines. Dinner has been at various venues, some definitely better than others. Our itinerary was jam packed during the 11 days - we saw a lot and for us, it was a trip of a lifetime! 

  

We were in Iowa, of course! 

! Divinity Statue

Good- It was great to have the trip all planned by others, great to have someone else driving. It was reasonably priced and included just about everything.  

The Bad - For someone like myself who doesn’t like to be under pressure - the itinerary was a little daunting at times. Getting up at 6/6:30 in the morning to get dressed, making sure you’re packed, eat breakfast and load onto the bus by 8 or 8:30 am to start the day. Our day was nonstop until 9 or even 10 pm.  This was day after day and exhausting to say the least.  I would have liked a little more personal time. Charlie and I actually stayed back at the hotel mid-tour to rest a day and just met the group for dinner.  I needed it! At one point, we were at a venue that I really had, had enough of and I commented to Charlie - “I feel like a hostage”  because we had to wait to leave.  While having someone else in charge is a wonderful change of pace, you have given up control of your day to someone else and have to just suck it up when you may not want to do it.  

The other issue I had was the seating. There was just not enough room to really be comfortable. Most of our time was on the bus; we really needed those breaks to move around.  It was definitely tighter than flying coach - which isn’t exactly roomy.  However, we had brought neck pillows, blankets and metal water bottles along with snacks so we had everything we needed.  

The Good - We got to see a lot! MT Rushmore and Crazy Horse were the highlights.  The Black Hills, Custer State Park, Badlands National Park were also amazing.  We enjoyed the Corn Palace and Amana Village - places I had never heard of before but nonetheless worth seeing!  And the Divinity Statue is just breathtaking! It was fun visiting Wall Drug and several little western towns including the film set from Dances With Wolves.  As we head home,  we’ll be stopping at a botanical gardens and Studebaker Museum.  

Mt Rushmore 

           Crazy Horse

Custer St Park 

 

          Dances With Wolves Film Set

 

 Badlands

The Bad - I really have no specific negative thoughts on our stops. Some of the choices for hotels or dinner stops could definitely have been better - but we’re usually not too fussy. I would have mixed things up a little more as I start to lose focus if I’m going to 2-3 museums in the same day  - I need different types of stimulation.  But it was fine.  

As we begin our trek home today, I think I’ll look back at this trip with good memories. Would I do a bus trip again? Possibly- never say never - but I think I would definitely look into other ideas ( like a train trip) or another cruise out of Galveston, TX now.