Sunday, May 17, 2015

Movin' on Up

It feels like the right time for a move update.
Because we're moving. Soon.

Yikes!!

Our last move was six years ago, and its funny how over time you forget about the bajillion things that need doing immediately and all that gut twisting stress and the long sad goodbyes and all the emotion that gets churned up when changing geography. It comes back to you pretty quickly.

So our house is sold. It's been under contract for several weeks now, but I've been reluctant to say anything here because real estate deals are notoriously precarious, particularly in the northeastern corner of the U.S.  So far, so good. Inspections have been completed and movers booked. Course we don't know where we're going to live in the interim, but that's just a pesky detail. One of a hundred pesky details.

Hi Mom! We're coming to you! Ha!

Only I'm not kidding. At 50-something hubs and I are becoming boomerang 'kids'. Our plan is to spend a few weeks at my mom's house wrapping up assorted business and appointments in NJ, before moving into a rental down south. Still gotta figure out the rental, but like I said-details...pssht.

So last week we did what anyone moving to a yet to be determined temporary home in less than a month would do. We took a vacation.


My daughter is so crafty. I loved this greeting on her kitchen chalkboard, and I enjoyed every minute of pretending there wasn't a list as long as my arm waiting for me at home too. The home I'm moving from in about three weeks, but I digress.

Here's the thing about moving...yes there is a lot to do, but it's important not to neglect the people when you're dealing with all the things. We'd planned months ago, to make our very first trip to the Pacific Northwest (PNW) over the Mother's Day weekend, and we stuck to that plan.


When your children live thousands of miles away it helps to see their actual space. To know when you're on the phone with them where they're sitting. To walk the neighborhood and visit the grocery store aka commissary and meet the new puppy before he's a full grown dog.


To see your daughter's office and the hospital where your son-in-law spends so very many hours learning and perfecting his chosen profession. Somehow when you've seen their spaces and places up close and personal the people you love don't feel so very far away.

In case you're wondering, the PNW is my new favorite place. The beauty y'all!  It is staggering. First of all, can we talk about this little bump in the landscape called Mt. Rainier?


I feel like that should be written MT. RAINIER.

We didn't get out to the actual mountain this trip, but it's all around you as you travel the highways of Tacoma and Seattle. Next time we're here we hope to make a trek that way. You can only do so much in six days, and this trip we wanted to become familiar with the area, and we also had to pick up a puppy and spend hours spoiling him, so a mountain road trip is on our list for next time.

Then there's the Puget Sound. This was our view from a rooftop restaurant the day after we got to town-


I think it's been well established here how I feel about the water. Is there anything better than a sunset on the sea?

As you might imagine I (ahem) have more than a few photos of our visit so I'm going to break them up into a couple of posts here. It might sound crazy to say I'm going to blog when I have a house to organize, a rental to locate, utilities to cancel, lunches and dinners with friends, etc., but that's how I roll.

When I have too much to do I blog. Don't tell hubs. He wakes me up in the morning with the to-do list he's tracking on the iPad.


Talking about my baby girl who grew up playing house in the basement, building houses out of sand at the beach, setting up houses under the trees in our side yard, and who is now grown up living in an honest to goodness warm and cozy brick and mortar home is way more fun. Also, it's not actually brick, but siding is good too.

Plus, did I tell you how tall the trees are and how green everything is and how beautiful the scenery is in the PNW? And there's a puppy in the house?


Don't worry...I will!

14 comments:

  1. Oh My!!!! You are a busy woman!! and I'm laughing so hard at the "let's just go on vacation since we are moving in a few weeks"!!!!
    SO something we would do.
    found your blog on someone's blogroll....can't remember now....but read quite a bit of it. and then I read some of your daughter as well, because your life is like a mirror of mine. when I saw that you had a wedding recently, I had to read all about that cuz I'm a sucker for weddings and we've been thru it all 3 times with our boys. Gorgeous wedding, by the way.
    So, you make me laugh with your antics and I can't wait to follow along on your building path. We have a lakehouse too!
    Good Luck on staying NOT bored,......HAHAHAHA!

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  2. Oh, my, my head is spinning and your move makes our soon to be move look like a piece of cake. And, I'm already in a fretting mode over it. But, as my precious Mom would say, "one day at a time, one day at a time." Such excitement and I look forward to following along in this new adventure.

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  3. You must have quite the spirit. Do you move a lot because of jobs? I am more of a home for good type. I don't like to move and because I was shifted so much as a kid, I like to have the roots in one place. And, I couldn't imagine living any further from my girls then I do now (1 hour). I know, I complain about that distance so I have to count my blessings.

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  4. Amazing how fast your house sold! Congrats!

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  5. Oh Joyce... a visit to see one of your children is the best medicine for the woes of moving. Love the pic of the two of you. You can see the joy in your daughter's eyes of having you there. So glad you put your to do list aside to concentrate on what's most important. It's not easy... I know. I get so distracted by all "stuff" and have to learn to enjoy all my blessings. Can't wait to follow you on your exciting journey. Looking forward to more posts on your visits.

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  6. I could've told you how beautiful the PNW was/is.... but I knew you'd have to decide for yourself. Besides we like to keep it a secret. ;)
    After you've finished exploring the WA mountain range you must come South... we have a few down here that are worth the drive.

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  7. we are packing up my brother's place. It is amazing how much stuff one person can accumulate in 14 years, I would be afraid to move our family of four who have lived here for 32 years.
    and a puppy? how cute is that? hope to see lots of growing up pics soon.

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  8. SO BEAUTIFUL!! :) My husband and I got married and within 3 months were stationed at Ft. Lewis too! I had some of my first - ahem - adult exams at Madigan Army Hospital (fun memories ... NOT!! LOL). ;) So glad you go to visit - and hope you get to go back. SO MUCH to explore!! We lived there 2 years - but needed about 2 more to see all we wanted to see and experience. I look forward to more pics!!! :)

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  9. Sounds like a great vacation and probably just what you needed to break the stress of everything else going on. I know what you mean about blogging. I have loads to do on my to do list but sometimes I just need to do something different and for me. So I blog. Or read blogs. It will all get done eventually. Of course you don't have eventually you have deadlines. But I'm sure you'll meet them and I look forward to hearing more about your journey.

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  10. I'm glad to hear you got the chance to visit your daughter for a while, and that you enjoyed the trip :)
    Best wishes as you forge ahead with moving plans!
    Kathy (from Reflections by Kathy)

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  11. Wish I had known you were coming!

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  12. Hi,
    This is one area of the country we have not explored. It looks just wonderful.
    Best wishes on all the plans for the future. :-))
    Carla

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  13. I'm so excited for you. So much going on. So glad you got to visit the PNW. Sounds like a good trip. I can't wait to visit with Adam and Tristen to see their place. It is hard when they live so far away. Mt. Rainier looks so beautiful, I haven't seen it yet. Playing with their new puppy must have been fun too. Best of luck with your move and have a nice time with your mom!

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  14. I'm catching up on blogs! Loved reading this, Joyce. Congrats on selling the house. That's the big one....

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