Once upon a time, I married a middle school teacher. Life would be
good. We would live in our hometown and be part of its fabric. We
would know everyone and they would know us and we would live happily
ever after in one place. We would buy a house and build equity for our
retirement… NOT!!
The Spousal Unit decided that, for our economic well-being, he would
get a job in corporate America and so began a series of moves that
spanned 30 years. The first five moves were for 2-3 years, the sixth
was for 16 years and included one local move to a different house, so
that was move #7, and the last one has been for almost 3 years.
Having done this with varying numbers of children, I have learned that
one of the smartest things you can do is get a steno pad and write down
specific directions from your new home to EVERYTHING – grocery stores,
fast food, gas stations, pediatrician, post office and schools. With
little kids, you cannot afford to get lost and drive around for hours,
unsure if you are in a safe area or not. Do a couple of trial runs to
familiarize yourself.
I got a pediatrician lined up when I went to my new location for the
closing on the house. Good thing I did because when we did make the
move a few weeks later, while staying in the hotel waiting for the
moving van, we got a family-sized case of pink-eye. Also, don’t leave
your house without your keys hooked over your pinky where you can see
them – I locked myself and the kids out on day one and this was before
cell phones or before I had met a neighbor!!
In those few days before the moving van arrives, clean out the cabinets
and get them ready because I think that the kitchen is the worst thing
to organize. If you’re like me, where you put it on day one is where
it stays until you move again.
When the corporate movers offer to unpack, do not say to yourself, “No,
I’d rather do it at my own pace.” Bending down to get something out of
the bottom of those deep boxes is NOT good for the back. I finally
learned to let them unpack the kitchen boxes until every available
surface was covered with the stuff we had amassed.
Go out and knock on a few doors and introduce yourself. People are kind
– they will offer all kinds of help, from directions to a dinner
invitation, from the offer to use their phone to a glass of wine.
Don't be surprised when some of your favorite foods can not be found.
I stood in the bread aisle weeping when I could not find my beloved
Pepperidge Farm Cinnamon Swirl bread in California (it has finally
arrived!). And who knew that, when I first left the NY-area,
Entenmann's baked goods were local and not found all over?
Try to relax and look at it as an adventure. You could make the best friends of your life!
Tags: ...
Comments (1):