The Moving Van Arrives
February 25, 2009
And I find myself telling them to put everything in the garage, which is what happens when you move into a house that has less than half the square footage and no basement.
I know someone will ask, this is a rental house. We are RENTERS, for now! No idea how long “for now” might be. It might end up being forever because I am watching three moving men carry all of our crap into this house and have zero desire to do this again. Especailly if I do not have people packing, moving, and unpacking for me.
Posted by Chris @ 12:21 pm
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let everything in boxes so it’s ready for your next move!!
February 25th, 2009 at 12:26 pmI have moved 6 times in the past 8 years and am about to move one more time (hopefully for good, but one can never get that hopeful). I feel your pain.
February 25th, 2009 at 12:30 pmWe did the renting thing while our house was being built. Although it was a lot smaller, it was kind of freeing to just get to call someone when something broke down.
At least you are in a part of the country where you won’t get cabin fever.
Good luck with the unpacking!
February 25th, 2009 at 12:32 pmThat is the thing about the south. No basement. I am from Kansas and was so used to having a basement that when I moved to Texas 5 years ago I found it strange. We end up getting rid of a lot of things since we don’t have the storage.
February 25th, 2009 at 12:36 pmMoving stinks. I’ve done it so many times and still don’t have a good method. Good luck with the unpacking!
How are the kids doing with the change?
February 25th, 2009 at 12:44 pmCongratulations on the move. One of my first internet pen pals (way back when it took 45 minutes to load a page) teaches at one of the universities in Austin and I hear the weather and people are great. Often warm, sometimes cool. The people, too
February 25th, 2009 at 12:55 pmat least there is no snow…
February 25th, 2009 at 12:56 pmIt’s amazing how much stuff you’ll leave packed until you figure out if you really are going to stay there or go out and find your “dream” house. We did that in our last rental. Best of luck!
February 25th, 2009 at 12:59 pmBarefoot in February! Good luck with everything.
February 25th, 2009 at 1:05 pmMaybe you should consider a storage unit? We used one to hold almost half our stuff when we moved 4 years ago. Luckily when we moved into our present house, there was much more storage (not more living space, but still…) so we didn’t need to do that again. Plus we dumped a whole lot of stuff. Then again, I am your polar opposite when it comes to clutter LOL.
February 25th, 2009 at 1:08 pmOH! The last time we moved we had movers with packers and everything, and I could definitely get used to that, but I know better than to actually get used to it. It’s amazing how living in a smaller house with small people will motivate you to pack up all your stuff and move again. We’ve been here 8 months and I would SO pack up and carry everything on my back if we could afford a bigger house, but since we cannot, I will make the best of our togetherness.
February 25th, 2009 at 1:18 pmWelcome to the south, land of no basements!
February 25th, 2009 at 1:18 pmHow much square footage does this rental house have?
February 25th, 2009 at 1:20 pmSo now that you’ve left CT - can you tell us what town in CT you lived in? I was always trying to figure out based on your posting’s and pictures.
Enjoy Tx! Of course you have to share what made you move and are you still homeschooling all the kids??
February 25th, 2009 at 1:26 pmNo kidding—I have been so sick of moving, seven times in nine years of marriage. I think this move was the last one for us, but I demanded we go ahead of time and FIND A HOUSE BECAUSE I WAS NOT PACKING AGAIN. LOL! But we were able to make a couple of trips beforehand.
Did you sell your house already?? If so, that was quick!
February 25th, 2009 at 1:26 pmI know you think it sucks…but I’ve been longingly watching these pics of your move and it makes me want to move all the more.
I’m in Iowa and I’ve traveled to TX more than once and I literally CRIED every time I had to come home.
Seriously. I would LOVE to be in your shoes.
February 25th, 2009 at 1:32 pmUghhh.. That doesn’t sound like much fun.
February 25th, 2009 at 1:40 pmWe moved last year. My husband mentioned the prospect of moving again this year. I think my response was clearly to put my fingers in my ears and say “La La La” really loud. Good luck with your new place, the weather sounds great! =)
February 25th, 2009 at 1:48 pmLike so many others, I’m dying to know the “why” of all this!
I’m so with you on not wanting to do this again. I HATE the whole process of packing and unpacking. Shudder!!
I think what impresses me most about this post is that you have the presence of mind to have your camera ready just as the day is about to go all crazy on you with the delivery of all your stuff.
Hope it all goes smoothly and that the thing you most want to find is in the next box you open.
Chris says: My camera is grafted to my arm.
February 25th, 2009 at 1:49 pmYour son is wearing shorts. I am crying inside.
February 25th, 2009 at 1:55 pmDid you sell your other house in NE?
February 25th, 2009 at 1:58 pmMoving Sucks! I was a Navy Brat and plan to die in my house so that I never have to move again!
February 25th, 2009 at 2:00 pm10000 of people.
One unanswered question.
Why?
February 25th, 2009 at 2:05 pmOuch!!! We did the opposite move 18 months ago without movers…. it was painful!!
February 25th, 2009 at 2:54 pmShorts, a t-shirt, and bare feet. Sigh.
February 25th, 2009 at 2:57 pmWe moved from a smallish condo to a 3-story townhouse with more living space, but *way* less storage space (not even a linen closet!). So as the movers were coming the house, it seemed like every third box went into the den. It has taken me 4 months to plow through them and reclaim some of the space in the den.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:04 pmLook at it this way Chris, no more snow and I’m sure the bears will miss you!
February 25th, 2009 at 3:05 pmUgh. My 9th level of Hell would require me to pack, move, unpack and start over again.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:05 pmYuck…you have my sympathies. When we moved a couple of years ago I thought “we’ll stay in this house a few years and then move to something else.” But, the thought of moving again is too much to bear!
I can only imagine with a crew your size it’s a lot of stuff. Good luck!
February 25th, 2009 at 3:13 pmI can commiserate with you on that one! We moved to be closer to family and found out three days later that my husband was being transferred across the state AFTER I had already unpacked everything. We are still living with boxes, which I had hubby put in the attic and garage this weekend. The only problem with that is I don’t know where what box is or even whats in what box (his brother helped us pack)! So we have been doing our patriotic duty by stimulating th economy to replace such things as hangers and pillows and carrot peelers. BTW, how come you always find the box containing the items you need AFTER you’ve replaced them?
February 25th, 2009 at 3:16 pmAfter having moved 5 times in the last 4 and a half years, you certainly have my sympathy. On the grand scale of Suckitude, moving is way up at the top. I never, ever want to move again, not unless it involves winning the lottery and watching strapping young men with muscles pack all my stuff up and move it for me. I’d move for that.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:23 pmUnpacking? So unpleasant. But look at the bright side, your son is standing on the front porch in his bare feet in (can you believe it?) February!
I say have a big old garage sale instead of unpacking.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:24 pmSo what you’re saying is that you don’t miss New England?
(Can’t say I blame you…he’s barefoot! In February!)
Have you seen the last issue of Domino? It has a list of awesome Austin places.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:33 pmWhere ever you go there will always be…..
BASEBALL….
and renting is not half bad for awhile…..let someone else take care of everything for once….
February 25th, 2009 at 3:37 pmHold out for a pool. Also, find out which part of town you really want to be in. West and Northwest Austin are my favorite.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:58 pmTHANK YOU!!! for spelling “y’all” correctly!!!! And it won’t be too long before all y’all will also be “fixin’” to do stuff.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:05 pmI guessed right!!!!
February 25th, 2009 at 4:14 pmYou say renters like it’s a bad thing!!
Moving, regardless if you bought or are renting, blows! I can’t say I envy you. Well, other than the whole being in warm weather in February thing
Chris says: I really wasn’t saying like it was a bad thing. It is sort of exciting knowing that we don’t have to repair anything should it break.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:15 pmBe careful sticking everything into the garage. If there’s any new construction anywhere in your vicinity field mice will nest in every box they can get to. Trust me, we learned this the hard way.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:19 pmI agree, I hate moving!
February 25th, 2009 at 4:56 pmI moved from Wisconsin to Virginia some years ago, and I still haven’t gotten over the loss of my basement.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:58 pmI can’t imagine the effort in moving nine people across country, and you still have energy to post! We did three, seven years ago and I’m still haunted. Very jealous of your son in shorts and bare feet. Spring in Alaska is still a long way off. Good luck with the unpacking!
February 25th, 2009 at 5:03 pmWe are a navy family..and anytime I even start to think about moving without a paid, by someone else, or start to think about moving myself..i break into a cold sweat..i hate the unpacking process!
February 25th, 2009 at 5:07 pmGOOD LUCK!
xoxo
ronee
unless I’ve missed something…..we still don’t know WHY you’ve moved??
btw. I miss your house already, and I’ve never even been there…
February 25th, 2009 at 5:38 pmBut isn’t that what all those boys are for…moving boxes? At least the older ones.
February 25th, 2009 at 5:41 pmGeorgia to Oregon to Texas to Oregon. I’m so over moving! Last time was the first time I’ve ever had movers. I’ll never not have them again.
February 25th, 2009 at 5:46 pmI’m sure you are getting much unsolicited moving advice, however, having worked for your movers van lines I wanted to make sure you know to submit all claims/lost items prior to moving again (if you move within 9 months). If you move again and then notice something, it will not be honored, since they’ll be unable to determine which move it happened on. Check those decorations and things that you only see seasonally!
Good luck!
February 25th, 2009 at 5:48 pmWe want to know why you moved and what happened to your NE house.
I sure wish I could have it, it was beautiful.
February 25th, 2009 at 5:53 pmI know. And there’s just a limit to child labor, too. I hope you get to catch your breath anytime soon.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:34 pmYou realize that in a few short years, you’ll be like the rest of us adopted southerners. When I moved to Alabama, I thought 60 was warm and 70 meant summer. Now, I freeze at 60 and it’s gotta break 80 for shorts. Maybe 85.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:53 pmWishing I could relate. The only time we moved was 25 years ago and the distance was (are you ready) less than 1/2 mile.
February 25th, 2009 at 7:00 pmDo not hate me…I feel your pain through my daughter’s and son’s experiences! I would love to know what brought you to Austin!
Have you ever seen so many white pick-up trucks and Suburbans?
February 25th, 2009 at 7:03 pmI have moved 6 times in the last 6 years - it does not get any easier … the stuff just seems to breed and multiply after each move
February 25th, 2009 at 7:15 pmWhy, why, why, why, why, why, why, why????????? I want to know the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey says!!!! =) I am so not patient….
February 25th, 2009 at 7:16 pmMoving will come all to soon for us. I can feel the hives already….
February 25th, 2009 at 7:33 pmDid you sell your other house?
February 25th, 2009 at 7:50 pmWe rented for a while, I’m glad you found a place that didn’t freak about the kids (cause our old landlord was a bit nervous about 5). Also it’s awesome to be a renter when the water heater goes out over Labor Day weekend when you have an out of state trip planned. Not that I know or anything…
Also? Be glad you have the garage to move things into! My ding dong husband had the garage floor epoxied the day before we moved into our current house. All the garage boxes ended up in my dining room and foyer. And then I didn’t have the big strong guys to move them into the garage later when the floor was done.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:27 pmNo basement means no needless junk. Best wishes to your entire family as everyone transitions.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:36 pmWhen we moved to this house 2 years ago, we said we are NEVER moving again- it was that fun.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:51 pmtexas?!? i’m in houston! i can stalk you much better from here…. kidding. you will LOVE our weather. and austin is the beauty queen of all our cities. WELCOME!!
February 25th, 2009 at 9:07 pmThere are no bears but there are plenty of deer in the subdivisions in Texas. They will eat anything! There are actually some older homes in Texas that do have basements. My niece lives in a home in Austin with a basement. I think it was built in 1927. A very interesting place, and beautiful. Just what you need with all your children. It’s not for sale, they only bought it about three years ago and have been doing what you did with the big yellow house ever since then.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:53 pmWait, you can pay people to unpack for you? Dude, that is not so bad.
I don’t know about Texas, but just next door if we had a basement we would have water in it all year around. We really don’t need another place to hold water, especially during hurricane season.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:08 pmMy family of seven just moved from Wisconsin to Colorado Thanksgiving week (3 months ago). I know - moving on a holiday week… was I crazy??? Thank God for moving companies and my husband’s company that paid them. But moving a family ANY size is a daunting task! Welcome to the warmer weather - we’re getting similar weather in our part of Colorado (Colorado Springs) and we are DEFINITELY not missing the cold and snow of Wisconsin! Good luck with the unpacking and settling in!
February 25th, 2009 at 10:17 pmthe loss of a basement was hard for me too - but its nice to have fewer THINGS to weigh us down.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:37 pmSelfishly I am sad that you are no longer in New England. I loved hearing about your life up there, and how it compared to Georgia. I also loved your cute house and awesome kitchen. BUT…I am so happy for yall that you got to move south! It’s wonderful down here. Hope you love it, and I look forward to hearing all about you getting settling in. Your kids will be so happy to play outside all the time!
February 25th, 2009 at 11:14 pmWell you are no longer in the north east because:
1. You don’t have a basement
February 25th, 2009 at 11:21 pm2. It looks very Texas Like there. Maybe not Texas but definitely not North East.
I’ve consulted with another loyal Austin reader, and we agreed that it would be great if you had an Austin meet-and-greet, so that your Austin readers could get to know you in person. Plus! You would get to know some Austinites and make new friends. Win-win!
Of course, I assume that you’ll be busy unpacking for a while, but maybe after that…We’d love to meet you in person!
February 26th, 2009 at 1:05 amI just got back from vacation in Colorado and at least here in Texas you won’t have to worry about wearing all that snow gear. That alone will save you some storage room.
February 26th, 2009 at 1:21 amI am sincerely hoping that I get to stay exactly where I am until that box comes along. I have just done a de-clutter although the wardrobes could do with one as well.
The only thing I would love is to win lotto to give us enough to retire on and live like we do now and to give me a studio for my painting and sewing. That for me would be bliss.
At least moving sort of makes you do a de-clutter anyway.
Chris, I wish you all the very best with this new venture.
Unfortunately I am absoltely no where near comuting distance to be even able to offer you any help at all.
Look forward to hearing from you. Take Care and don’t stress too much.
Lots of Love Carolynn xxxxx
February 26th, 2009 at 1:36 amWell, I’m very jealous now - but hopefully, when it is super hot there in August and finally nice weather in AK, I won’t be so jealous! I recently read a great memoir about a woman in the austin area - A unlikely Lavender Queen - she started a lavender farm. I can’t remember her name; it came out last year. she loves Austin, Tx.
February 26th, 2009 at 1:37 amwow I want to cry…
i miss the BYH! But it is going to be fun reading about the new chapter in your life!!!
February 26th, 2009 at 3:04 amI keep catching myself thinking about the extra upheaval of it being in the middle of a school year, then I’m like “Oh yeah! She already has that part covered!”
You’re going to have to get one more bedroom than you think you need in your new house, just for storage purposes, I think. Ooh, and I’m bemoaning the loss of your new, so-nicely-organized pantry.
February 26th, 2009 at 7:00 amI feel ya. The house we’re currently in in slated to be demolished so new homes can be built. Only part is the housing office on post doesn’t know when. We could be moving again in July (after moving in October), or it could be in a year or 2, or not at all during the time DH is stationed here. It totally kills the setting up house and making it home feeling.
February 26th, 2009 at 7:00 amWow - good luck with the move! I love New England but being from the South, I have to say that it’s probably a good move.
February 26th, 2009 at 11:26 amI know you will miss your old friend the pellet stove.
February 26th, 2009 at 11:36 amI’ve read you for awhile now and have commented very infrequently but felt the need to say something about your huge announcement. I was so caught off guard about your family’s move… and I don’t know where you are with it (joyous, saddened, upset, frustrated, all of the above) but for some reason I’m feeling a little sad over this change.
I know I have an overly romantic view of New England (thanks in part to movies like Baby Boom)– old houses restored… beautiful fall colors… yes, lots of snow… apple picking… I guess you were living my dream in some strange way (although I’m not sure my dream included 7 children
I will miss you being there.
I hope that this is a good change for your family and that everyone settles in quickly. Will you be sharing the reason for this move?
February 26th, 2009 at 12:47 pmThat’s why your house always looked so perfect in recent pictures - it was on the market and needed to be show ready!! Now I can stop feeling bad about my less than perfect house.
February 26th, 2009 at 2:41 pmWelcome! We’re in Ft. Hood and go shopping in RR all the time. We’ll have to haunt Ikea to grab a autographing moment. That’s not a weird stalker thing is it?
February 26th, 2009 at 3:10 pmI like the comment about pest control. You will loathe those fire ants. Keep Benadryl handy.
I don’t mind the heat… just wish we had a longer spring/fall with mild temps. You can always invest in those SPF clothing lines.
A few more things - it is not broiling in Austin, just VERY steamy. There are free/public pools in almost all neighborhoods, and wonderful libraries (and usually good magazines/books for free in give away areas.) Deals abound (um, some would call it garbage)- free stuff when wealthy students leave U.T. for the summer. Don’t live in Leander or Round Rock — I would recommend sticking to Austin. I giggle though, when people call Texas the “South” - Southwest is more like it, especially Austin.
February 26th, 2009 at 3:15 pmCould we have a virtual tour of your new house?
February 26th, 2009 at 5:26 pmYou are so lucky for the moving van. We moved when the boys were 5 and 3 with a UHaul. I had our minivan packed to the brim with 2 cats in crates, one child in the back seat and my mother-in-law next to me. The other child, my husband and my father-in-law in the moving van. And then we drove for 13 hours. Whenever I think of moving I remember that trip. Home looks pretty good at the moment.
February 26th, 2009 at 7:35 pmYeah, what’s up with no basements in TX? I always thought that was odd…where do they put the exercise stuff no one uses?
February 26th, 2009 at 7:42 pmI feel exactly the same as Krista. You were living in a place that was so foreign to me it could have been in another planet. I’ll miss your old life. It something I only saw in the movies. I’m Texas born and bred, that’s why somewhere else was more exciting or cool or awesome or something!
February 27th, 2009 at 2:05 amI haven’t checked in on your blog in a long while because…well, I have 6 kids so you get it.
We moved 1 yr ago from CT to FL. Don’t you HATE not having a basement? You will be amazed at how much “stuff” you dispense of. We are renters, for now, too. I understand all that you are probably feeling right now. How are the kids doing with the move? Our oldest two are in high school and it was/is by far the hardest on them. I question whether we did the right thing, and it is hard being so farm from our families, but the economy in CT was not boding well for my husband’s line of work. You go where your bread and butter is my husband’s grandmother would say.
February 27th, 2009 at 10:24 amGood luck with the unpacking. We moved 7 years ago and vowed that our next move would be in plain pine boxes.
February 27th, 2009 at 11:05 amI forgot to mention the other day that one of my favorite grocery stores is in your area! (It’s one of the things I look forward to when we move back to DFW, along with barbecue, Super Target and more.) Central Market. Go. Find. It. http://www.centralmarket.com/ If you go for the produce section only, it’s worth the trip.
February 27th, 2009 at 12:01 pmso glad you are in texas..only wish it was up here ( I’m in the dfw area.. then we could get your 7 kids and my 4 girls together and start a mini-compound.lol Just kidding.
It’s gonna get hot real fast…enjoy. hee hee
February 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pmThe soil is Texas isn’t conducive to basements.
I won’t ask why you moved ’cause that’s your business. But welcome to Texas. Austin is well located, too. You’ve got bat caves and springs and the hill country. If you’ve never lived down here, the heat will surprise you (much as, I’m sure, the depth and breadth of a New England winter would surprise me) as will the electrical bill in July and August. Don’t expect a lotta fall. It just stays hot and then gets mild and then hot again.
Anyway. I hope you have enough room and that you all make an easy transition.
February 27th, 2009 at 4:16 pmAs a fellow Texan, welcome to the Lone Star State! We live in Dallas but go to Austin frequently to visit parents and sibs, it’s a great place. Being a transplanted Northeasterner, I always loved your pictures and accounts of living up north in the BYH, but will really look forward to hearing about your adventures in your new digs. Like many readers (and since I am a first-year homeschooler to three of my kids) I am interested in whether you plan to continue homeschooling here, or if you might be doing something different? I know, nosey, nosey, nosey!! Happy unpacking!
February 28th, 2009 at 12:48 pm