My S finally seems to be ready to go. Monday night he decided to start packing his clothes. He has bought several things on his own the last few days that I had procrastinated or forgot. Last night was the last night before his girlfriend left for her college and tonight he is with his best friend for one last all night video gaming session. Tomorrow will be a family night and then Friday we will figure out how to pack the cars so we can hit the road Saturday morning. I am doing fine but I did shed several tears over the departing GF. She is like family.
The 2 tote-a-tons I ordered arrived yesterday. I think my DD would fit inside! DS thinks he may not need 2 but since he has yet to even make a pile of the clothes shoes, and sports gear he is taking, I think he may be surprised at how much it will be. He has never packed for a stay of more than a week, let alone months.
Grandparents have set up a going away dinner for DS. When they asked if there would be one, my response was āI cannot possibly handle the details for anything elseā. DD has HS orientation this week and her fall sport has begun. I have projects I am managing at the office. A dinner will be nice but I am glad it is not at my house!
Fall semester bill: paid! 
Thank god (in a non-religious way) D16 found this suitable school and they accepted her. Thank god for the full-tuition grant. This dream of residential college would not be coming true without it. Also, thank god for DHās job switching him from temp to permanent gig (feels more secure, which is a helpful delusion). Thank god the old beater car just broke down and our good credit gave us access to a new-used car that is of this centuryā¦fobs: so fun!). Thank god my jobās unit is getting investment, which also lends a sense of security (even on a sinking ship?). Thank god D16 will be attending a local school, which removes some of the sting of ālosingā the company of my only child. Thank god for everything D16 and we were able to do to prepare her for this launch/transition. I think sheās going to soar.
@dyiu13 Iām thanking God for you (in a religious way)
@Cheeringsection We got two as well, and D filled both of them. Because theyāre so big and weigh so little themselves, we were able to bring sheets, towels, AND clothes, shoes, make up, etc. and they both easily held 50 pounds apiece. We had two other pieces of luggage too, but the totes carried the bulk of everything. It was someone on CC who first mentioned them and they really did us a favor. Iāll bet with the sports equipment, your son will need them both.
Iām thinking abour ordering one or two of the totes, but the dimensions seem huge. Is there a somewhat smaller version? I wasnāt going to send fall clothes with him, but there is space under his bed behind his bookcase and small dresser that these could fit in for storage. Then he would have some fall/winter things with him and a trip or shipping a box wouldnāt be as urgent later on. Are you all using them just for clothes and soft items? Iāve been trying to decide how to pack a few odd, long items together, like the stickvac, desk lamp, closet extender rods, etc. I think I just duct taped them all together for older S so it was one bundled āthingā to carry.
I think there IS a smaller size. If not, there are other brands that come in a variety of sizes. I just canāt speak to their quality. They ARE pretty big, but they do meet the airlinesā baggage size rules (they come in at 60" inches when you measure one side each for height, width and length).
I leave in exactly 2 weeks and itās crazy! In other news my father dislocated his finger at work but heās okay. Just adds another wrinkle to move in plans as he wonāt be able to lift things.
We ordered one of those totes thanks to someoneās post here and I can tell it will hold a lot. Most of the bedding went in the box we just sent off with the school trucking program but the rest is going in that tote along with sweatshirts, jeans and long sleeved shirts. I expect it to go right under the bed since it is for clothes S wonāt need for awhile. It could be good for shoes too. Then we will see how many suitcases for everything else. Iām thinking two at the most. My S is a minimalist.
Ow! Sorry for your dad - hopefully his finger will be on the mend in two week. Two weeks - yikes! It will fly by! S leaves one week from today. Iām in a constant state of panic, even though almost everything is packed and if not, it is sitting with its appropriate pile in the living room, waiting to be bagged or boxed.
I waited too long on the tote a lot bags. Their estimated arrival is the 16th, too late for my plans to be done this weekend. Lately, my amazon shipments have not been meeting the Prime 2 day delivery dates.
@dbjs70 Iāve always believed that not hearing from them means everything is going well. They call when theyāre unhappy. That doesnāt make it any easier for us parents, who are anxiously waiting to hear all about what theyāre doing and who theyāre meeting and everything.
Weāre heading to RIT tomorrow morning to move my son in for his preorientation program on Saturday. We wonāt be staying for orientation - and he says heās fine with that - so weāll see. From the schedule, it looks like most of the parent programs are separate from the students (as with most schools), so youāll get to check in with him without crowding him too much. Weāre not bringing the winter stuff until October.
Good luck. Itās quite an
Good luck to you all.
Itās a big adjustment period for everyone involved.
@krnBoston, good luck with the move in on Saturday. If you see my son say hello 
It is good, I agree, that some of the orientation stuff is separate. I think if weād been moving our S in on Saturday instead of last week we probably wouldnāt have stayed for orientation either.
@Cheeringsection --Ha! The very first thing I did when I got the tote a ton was crawl inside. :))
I have to admit itās feeling so real. I move in 2 weeks from today and I got some of my books today(the rest Iāll pick up from the bookstore when I move in). I have gotten a bit emotional today and tomorrow I have to see my first āadultā doctor ever- an ENT since Iāve had sinus problems all summer and I aged out of my pediatric ENT.
Catching up as everyone is moving or getting ready to make the big move. Good luck to all.
We go in 1 week- yikes! :((
I did contact auto insurance today & they will reduce my 6 mth premium by $160- as DS is not taking his car to school. Iāll take it!!
We are packing the car tomorrow and heading west.
Anyone packing the car the night before? I think Iāll wait until morning, as I am nervous about a car break-in. I wonder how long itāll take to load the car, at any rate.
@dyiu13 Yes, we are packing the night before because I canāt cry and pack the car at the same time the morning we head off. :((
Hugs to you @HappyFace2018