Locked and Loaded
Down to the wire. Our suitcases are packed. One final full day left in the States before we embark on our new life. So many thoughts are going through my head. With everything that has needed to get done up until the last minute, I still haven’t had a spare moment to fully process what we’re about to jump into.
The last two weeks, like the two weeks prior, were absolutely insane. While we moved into a hotel two weeks ago, it wasn’t really goodbye to the house. I have been back nearly everyday to check in on the contractors to make sure they were staying on schedule and to point out any issues that needed to be corrected. As of this morning, there were only a few small items they needed to finish up. But the good news is we passed the inspection from the property management company. The new tenants can move in on Monday to a house in far better condition than at any point of our time living in it.
It’s amazing how we often put off making improvements while living somewhere only to make it nicer for someone else, whether it be renters or buyers if you’re selling it.
This has been the largest item hanging over my head for the last two weeks. but it’s done. Thank god it’s done.
If there was anything left, I wouldn’t be able to make it back to the house tomorrow if I wanted. We returned both of our cars to the dealerships this week, and had a rental from Wednesday and returned earlier today. We are stranded at the hotel until Sunday morning. One final day finally relax, reflect, and talk to family and friends to say our state-side goodbyes.
Sunday morning, a few of Kate’s close friends have selflessly offered to caravan us out to Dulles for our 11AM flight.
It is really hitting me today, as I finally had a few moments to relax, just how much I’m going to miss our friends. Especially our neighbors. I mentioned in my last blog entry how much I loved our house. But it’s the neighborhood and friends we’ve made that made it such a special place. There was a row of about 5 houses where all of our families became very close over the years. The pandemic really solidified it. We had regular BBQ’s and would often gather at one of our neighbors backyard around their firepits. We’d put our kids to bed, then head over, often in the dead of winter bundled up in our heavy coats and blankets, chatting until the wee hours of the night. We are all roughly the same age, have kids all within the same age, and are experiencing, seemingly, very similar things. Jen, Travis, Jen, Chris, Kelly, Nate, John and Franni, you guys are the best neighbors, and we’ll miss you more than you could possibly know. If any of us ever needed something, we could always count on eachother. We have a group text chain going that is always good fun.
As I lay here in before I turn the lights off for the night, my head is spinning. The cover photo for this entry is seven of our eight suitcases ready to go. One last suitcase will be finished tomorrow along with our carry-on and personal items. Mine are my camera bag and alto saxophone. Not exactly helpful to carrying stuff, but I need to get this stuff over there safely. Our entire lives are in these suitcases. We managed to condense our whole lives into eight suitcases. It’s crazy.
The other thought going through my head is the state of the country and how consequential the next few months will be, and the fact that I won’t be here for it. I have to admit, I’m relieved we’re getting out now. This week, from my standpoint, has been one of the worst weeks I can remember, between the situation with the presidential election and the SCOTUS decisions that have been released. I’m absolutely distraught at where the country is heading. There is so much potential, and a lot of bright spots to grab onto. But the forces trying to undo all the good work (from my standpoint) are doing everything they can to tear it all down. I’m heartbroken about how things are right now. I fear for my friends and especially their kids.
One of the first things we plan to do when we arrive is get to the embassy to register, a well as register for our absentee ballots.
In just over a week, we’ll be lying on the beach in Krabi, decompressing, and enjoying a brief well deserved vacation. Hopefully, all of this stress experienced over the last few months will fade into the beautiful blue waters.
