• 27Feb

  There’s a lot to do!

  packing the house 2 Comments

  

  Hopefully our readers will not feel too cranky about the gaps between posts lately. There is a lot to do to get ready to move – and at the end of the day sometimes I can’t even think about it for another second….but of course I do!

  I don’t just think about the move, but live and breath it all day and dream about it at night. I am just so excited to be into our final six months!

  So, in lieu of excuses, I’ll detail a few of the things that have me distracted from writing blogs, reading blogs, and commenting on blogs:

  • I’ve put 125 cds and books on Amazon. Malcolm had suggested this for the piles of cds I have to sell. I checked all of them to see which ones were commanding higher prices and selected about 75 that were over about $8. A few were collectibles, and I am glad I checked them out first. Thanks, Malcolm! So far I’ve sold about 12. I also put on a bunch of books – mostly first edition modern mysteries. After I see how they do I’ll decide if I put more of our books on. But in going through all the books two huge boxes are now in the garage sale area.

  • I seriously slashed and burned my yarn stash. I sorted and ziplocked and even priced everything for the garage sale. I had 18 – 15 quart plastic tubs of nice yarn and I have reduced that to four! I believe that will do me for the next six months.
  • I put a bunch of items on Craigslist. So far I have been stood up by the person who was coming over to get the saltwater aquarium, but I’ve had a couple of calls on the antique bookcases. I believe one guy is trying to scam me on some chairs so I probably won’t respond to him.

  I’ve also been enjoying the present by taking the dogs for a nice walk every day. I used to go just across the highway and down the hill to walk along the water but lately there have been some semi-aggressive dogs that follow us around and make me nervous. So for the last two days I’ve gone to the State Park two miles down the road and walked them in amongst the second growth cedars and maples. Today there were wonderful sunstreams filtering through the branches that made my heart sing.

  Paul has always had an easier time letting go of things then I do – and I sometimes have felt sorry for him that he doesn’t have mementos from his childhood or from when his daughter was little. But I have been too far the other direction – being the person who would ALWAYS want to keep the family thing “just because.” Not so any more. I plan on keeping only the things that give me real pleasure or utility.

  
• 24Feb

  I’m Trying to Live in the Present

  getting ready, packing the house 2 Comments

  Having made the decision to move to Mazatlan, we are able to focus our attention on what we need to do to make that happen. There is a lot to do, as anyone who has ever disassembled a household can attest! And to move out of the country adds a whole layer that complicates everything.

  I believe I have the tasks we need to accomplish pretty well lined out. Some of them are complicated – like refinishing our wood floors before we put the house on the market. We are thinking that we will coordinate the work for our next trip to Mexico – board the dogs and the birds, have the work done, and then lock the door so they can cure while we are gone. (We hope that is in April, when we go look at property in Mazatlan)

  The thing I am working at is to try to stay in the present as much as possible. Life here is still good. I still love our property. We enjoy ourselves, and always do, no matter where we are. So I am trying to not think so much about the future that I miss the present.

  This is our last winter here. I should enjoy it! Spring is coming, and that is my favorite time here – with daffodils, quince, and cherry in bloom! (One thing about life in the North, you really appreciate Spring.)

  The present is great. The future will be great. Life is wonderful. I am lucky to have a great partner and to have the ability to choose my path.

  
• 20Feb

  We’ve Stepped Up the Pace

  packing the house 2 Comments

  What a relief it is to know where we’re going to be living!

  So many decisions and investigations were being put off until we identified the place:

  • Whether to keep one of our cars
  • How expensive would it be to bring down more than will fit in our car
  • What language school
  • What banking options
  • What insurance options
  • What houses are available

  So, in light of the above, I have gotten at it by putting a whole lot more on Craigslist this week. I’m already getting calls, so I am hopeful for this weekend.

  I am working towards a garage sale in March. That should get enough out of here that we can put the house on the market in April. I still have a lot of painting, etc. to get done between now and then, though!

  Our property here is 10 acres with mostly woods but about 3 acres landscaped. I know we are going to need some help to get it looking great by spring. If only it would stop raining for a minute we might have a chance!

  

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