The Shipping Container Departs
After a long week of packing, cleaning, and coordinating, there is finally time to pause and write a small update.
Our shipping container came on Tuesday, and with the help of friends and family we were able to get everything loaded. We were slightly anxious, given that the shipping company only allows for two hours to load the container, but we finished well within our two hour window. There was even time for a few photos! We were a little surprised at how much room was left over, given how full the garage felt before we started, but we were able to condense things a fair amount inside the container. In hindsight, we probably could have taken more, but then I’m sure we’d be anxious about where to put all of it when it arrives.
On Thursday evening we handed over the keys to our house to the new owners. The entire “vacating” process felt a bit drawn out and surreal, but we’re thankful that we were allowed to stay in the house right up until (basically) our departure. It’s been a wonderful place for us to live, and I hope it continues to serve its new owners well. It’s more than a bit strange to be “homeless” now. I haven’t quite gotten used to the idea that I won’t have to worry about the lawn or the leaves anymore for a while, but I trust I’ll get used to it!
That said, we still definitely have things to do before we go (change of address, sale of cars etc), but it does feel like we’re on the home stretch. We may even be able to relax a bit and enjoy a bit of our final stay with my parents. The boys seem to be taking our move in stride, but there have also been a few moments of worry and sadness on their part, and I’m sure there will be more. We plan on setting up regular video calls with my parents so the boys stay used to chatting with them frequently.
For now though, the Summer’s flurry of activity seems to be in the past. Now, it seems like we are in one of those exiting-but-unnerving “between” times where rhythms and routines are in flux. We are counting down the days until we fly to our new home!