<p>Well, H and I are about to leave our home/city. He has lived here his entire life, and I have been here for 28 years. The packers have been with us for the past two days, and our life has been reduced to mountains of cardboard boxes. The 18 wheeler moving van arrives in the morning and on Friday H and I pull out of Dallas with 2 cars, 3 cats, 1 large dog and a small travel trailer. Our new home in Nashville is ready and waiting. I’m glad I got to be in Nashville the past 7 weeks to get used to my new job and my new city. I know we will be happy, but that doesn’t make the moving process any easier. We have never done anything like this, and I really wish we could get rid of another half of our possessions. I haven’t seen my daughter since the end of May when we were all together for WildChild’s high school graduation on the east coast. She went from there to her California summer internship and then back to Rice for her senior year without crossing paths with me. She and her boyfriend are coming to see our new home in two weeks, so I’m excited about that. WildChild spent a few days in Nashville and seems to be OK with the move. He is a Texan by birth and at heart- managed to win third prize at the Penn orientation week toga party with his cowboy toga rendition (I KNEW there was a reason we pay that high tuition). H and I took some time off from the moving process to go to Penn to help WildChild get settled and visit family.<br>
Thanks to all for the tips on life in Nashville. I am getting my bearings and have found food, shopping and an Episcopal church on the right side of the issues dividing us (or should I say the LEFT side…).</p>
<p>MoWC:</p>
<p>Good luck on your big move!</p>
<p>MOWC, enjoy your new adventure! I’ve now had three cross country/international moves, and though they are not easy, they are always interesting. I found that it always took me a year to feel comfortable and about 2-3 years to feel like it was home. The clue was usually when I ran into an acquaintance at a grocery store. Then I felt at home. People have always asked me, “How do you like living in such-and-such?” I’ve always replied that I find things to like about each place I’ve lived, and that the only thing I ever miss is the group of friends I leave behind. I’m sure it helps that you are employed – as a sahm, it was a little difficult at times. But I’ve heard that Nashville is great, and if you’ve already found a Church then you are making great progress.</p>
<p>By the way, that’s a great title for a thread – A+ for creativity.</p>
<p>MoWC,
Good luck with the actual move! If you want any specific suggestions for Nashville, please feel free to PM me and I will find the answer. I have a very close friend who is involved in higher education in Nashville. She has lived there for years, is very involved in the community and would be an excellent resource.</p>
<p>MOWC–I just tuned in to this because I was so intrigued by your caption–what a wonderful image that is. Best of luck with the move and “bon courage” as the French would say. I’d guess that you will handle the whole thing with class and humor. Keep us posted. I’m sure that many of us have moves in our future, willed or not, and you can be a guide!</p>
<p>MoWC~</p>
<p>Awwwwwww, honey, {{{{{{{MAJOR HUGS}}}}} from one native Texan to a VERY long-term one!! I can’t imagine how hard this must be on both your dh and you…and on your kids, too, as they will have a new home to retreat to from their respective colleges <em>sigh</em>. </p>
<p>I’m so glad that everything is set up for your arrival in Nashville. It sounds like you’ve got all the major bases covered, and the rest will come soon enough. I am sure that this move will prove to be a great one for you all and that you will very much enjoy your new job/home.</p>
<p>During the early years of our marriage, my dh did contract engineering work, and we made interstate moves nearly once a year. It was <em>really</em> traumatic, especially as I was popping out babies right and left during that time <em>lol</em>, and each move required new docs, hospitals, etc., on top of everything else.</p>
<p>During one of my moves, a friend gave me a book that I found very helpful. It really touched on all of the emotional issues involved in moving, even the tiniest ones that really struck a chord with me, things such as the simple notion that you have to relearn where each and every light switch is when you’re fumbling in the dark to go to the bathroom <em>lol</em>. </p>
<p>I think you might find it useful…here is a link to it from amazon:
<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/-Trauma-Moving-Psychological-Issues-Women-ISBN-0803930550-182/dp/B000FWCUAQ/sr=1-3/qid=1157605305/ref=sr_1_3/103-3016452-2535866?ie=UTF8&s=books[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/-Trauma-Moving-Psychological-Issues-Women-ISBN-0803930550-182/dp/B000FWCUAQ/sr=1-3/qid=1157605305/ref=sr_1_3/103-3016452-2535866?ie=UTF8&s=books</a></p>
<p>Anyway, sweetie, best wishes to you and yours, and have a safe and hassle-free move, o.k.?? ~berurah</p>
<p>momof:
Good for you! I think your impending move sounds fine, like a real adventure. I’m worried we could be facing a similar move at some point – I can just imagine how hard it is. Be sure to check back in!</p>
<p>SCREAM!!! The huge moving truck showed up at 7:30 (my mover is great, though- a real class guy). The animals are freaking out.<br>
Thanks, Berurah. I’ll check out that book. It’s interesting- as the time to pull out of Dodge approaches, the things I will miss most changes. When I first accepted the job it was, “Who will cut my hair? What about church (the physical building)? Where will I work out?” Now it is all about PEOPLE! That’s another neat thing about this forum- none of YOU are going anywhere!
Since we are moving for MY job, I can’t do the resistant spouse routine which my TN realtor told me is very common. We found our TN house in 2 days with the realtor- she said she has worked with couples for 2 YEARS when one spouse doesn’t want to move and nixes everything. So far, so good. All animals accounted for- internet still working!
Stay tuned.</p>
<p>*<strong><em>ACK</em></strong>!!! OY, I remember those stressful moving days!!! Well, IMHO, as long as your animals are accounted for and your internet is working, you can at least retain PART of your sanity! HANG IN THERE!!! ~berurah</p>
<p>For some strange reason, Tennessee offers a choice of about 80 license plates (all but the standard one cost extra, of course). To my surprise, there is one celebrating my alma mater, Indiana University! I am trying to decide how obnoxious it would be to get that one. Not sure if it falls into the same category of the vanity bumper stickers (which were quite the “thing” in Texas and don’t seem to be in TN) or if it is just immature for me to get a university license plate oh these many years later. (and WHY does TN offer an IU plate???) I have a cool new vehicle (Toyota FJ Cruiser in M&M blue) and so far it is unadorned with any stickers proclaiming my affiliation or that of my kids to any particular educational institution. It was also suggested to me that I leave my TX plate on the front of the vehicle for sentimental reasons since TN doesn’t require front plates. It was just as quickly suggested that I NOT do this since I would get more tickets when the cops saw it! (Can you tell I am trying to stay out of the way of the movers- one of whom is afraid of my Golden Retriever…?)</p>
<p>Help- how much do you tip movers? I have three guys plus the wonderful driver/head guy at this end and probably three different guys at the other end.</p>
<p>
Oh, DO IT!!! I don’t think that shows “vanity” at all, but rather a very appropriate pride! I have never had a vanity plate in my LIFE, never even thought about it, but you know what? I just got one (hasn’t even arrived yet!). And yes, it refers to a college affiliation. I say, GO FOR IT. And I think it’s cool that TN offers those! ~b.</p>
<p>Tip movers??? Oops.</p>
<p>I tuned in as I was taking a break from staring at my own boxes. MOWC, know that I am with you in spirit! Our German movers apparently only knew two English words: “books” and “clothes.” That is what ALL our boxes are labeled. Okay, I exaggerate - the kitchen guy labeled everything “kitch”, so those boxes ended up in the right room. Today I also opened a box labeled “blankets.” It had trash cans in it. It is a major mystery finding anything at all. Of course, the “clothes” boxes that really do have clothes in them, aren’t labeled “whose” clothes, so they’re still not in the right rooms. And the boots from the basement or coats from the hall are also “clothes.” Good, environmentally-conscious Germans also don’t use much by way of wrapping or padding – we have much breakage. Today I opened a large picture (“clothes”) with a broken frame and shattered glass.</p>
<p>We have a few pieces of furniture left that need to be assembled, but we can’t find all the pieces. Americans usually tape screws, hinges, or whatever right to the furniture. If anybody knows what Germans do with them, please let me know.</p>
<p>Maybe they’re being held hostage for a tip?</p>
<p>Tipping the movers:</p>
<p>According to this about.com article, approx. $20 per guy, handed to the crew chief to split up. (And up to $100 for the crew, if they did an amazing job.)</p>
<p>Keep your sanity, MoWC, and treat it as an adventure. Best of luck! (And then there’s the UNpacking…)</p>
<p>Thanks, guys. IU it will be! Appreciate the advice on the tip- it was what I had planned. This move is paid for by my relocation, but we have spent a fortune anyway- doing all the required repairs (most nit-picky) to the Dallas house, etc. Our brick wall picked this month to decide to start it’s collapse ($3K later…)<br>
Welcome home, Binx. Yes, I am glad everyone speaks my language! The unpacking is supposedly done for us- to an extent. The other end will be a nightmare but at least we’ll be there. (Maybe I’ll just stay in my corporate apt which I have until Wed and let H deal with the new house!)</p>
<p>MOW:</p>
<p>If TN is like VA they offer the IU plate because XXX number of people petitioned the DMV for the plate and said that they would buy it. For the state it’s a money maker, which is why there is a surcharge. Most of the plates in VA are for VA schools, but you can also get Rutgers, UNC, Texas A and M (!), the University of Florida, University of Maryland, Villanova, NC State, Duke, USMA, or USNA, </p>
<p>We go with college stickers on the cars. For the plates we have a greyhound rescue.</p>
<p>It was between the IU plate and the “Animal Friendly” plate with the dog and cat.</p>
<p>The movers have constructed a cardboard ramp over the stairs and are sliding boxes and furniture down from the second floor. I’m glad my son didn’t figure that out while he was living here. The big bookcase was gathering a lot of speed before the mover at the bottom caught it!</p>
<p>This must be a big moving day. My best friend’s son is moving from home on the east coast TODAY heading for graduate school on the west coast – with real movers. They showed up early. Her D is a freshman at an Ivy on the east coast … and she and I are going to visit Mickey in Orlando for the weekend!</p>
<p>MOWC … I can just imagine the boxes going down the front stairs on the cardboard slide. ACK!!!</p>
<p>Wait, you are going to visit Disneyworld voluntarily? Eeek. <em>shudders in horror</em> I have never been able to go to theme parks unless I had to. I’d rather move across the country like MOWC. BTW MOWC, good luck with your new adventure!</p>
<p>MoWC, I want to join in to wish you the best of luck on your move! Wow, you have had quite an eventful last few weeks. The last time we moved was nine years ago, but I remember it vividly. Clearly, getting the movers to pack and unpack you is the way to go if you can. It makes the whole thing so much less stressful than it already is. I found watching the movers to be fascinating - they would have all made excellent Tetris (the video puzzle game) players! I was particularly struck with how quickly and efficiently they were able to pack, whereas I would ponder each closet, feel nostalgic about the contents for awhile and then decide whether to keep or toss, they were all business! </p>
<p>BTW, I have seen the FJ Cruiser done up in your color no less. That’s one cute car! I think the Indiana plate sounds like fun, especially since it sounds as if everyone down there has something. As an added bonus, it won’t stick to the glass! Incidentally, glad to hear that WC is having fun at Penn and congrats on the Texan toga prize, LOL!! Hope it all goes smoothly and that you have a wonderful future in Nashville!</p>