3 weeks...

I had another dream last night. In this one I was talking to someone from "work" about the jobs I passed up because we are moving overseas. I say "work" because I haven't actually worked in over a year. Yes, I know I'm lucky, very lucky. Many people have to work, and I have had the luxury of working part-time since my kids were born, and the last 8 years I worked from home. I loved my job - loved the work, loved the people, loved the creative outlet and sense of accomplishment it gave me. I miss it, and with being out of the loop for so long, I'm unsure that I'll be able to go back to it. Of course, I'm also unsure that I'll want to. Who knows where this adventure will lead me? Maybe I'll find my new career and new creative outlet while living in China????

In the other part of that same dream I was late for my class at the gym. Have I mentioned how much I love the gym? How much I'll miss it? That I calendar in my favorite class so nothing else gets scheduled at the same time? I've always liked to work out, but I've always been one to work out solo. A year ago if you would've told me that I'd be in a crowded class with 50 other women working out to music whose beat is turned up to a frenetic pace...I would've said - uh, nope. But working out has been my primary stress reliever in this adventure so far. Luckily our new condo complex has a work out room...can I find the same motivation without the teacher? Maybe I should record Stacey saying "come on legs" and "are your abs hanging out?" and bring it with me.

On a practical note, we continue to get ready to go. Van is sold. House is rented. Painting is finished. Pantry is getting empty. Checklist mostly checked. Seven burritos eaten (hopefully eight by this afternoon).
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4 weeks...

Do you believe that your dreams reflect your feelings? I do.

Last night I dreamt that I forgot to change the sheets before Mike's mom came to visit. (This reflects that I'm feeling like I have so many thoughts crammed into my head that I can't remember them all! Thank goodness for lists.)

A few weeks ago I dreamt that I won tickets to see a NBA game - and a weekend stay at a resort to go with it! I was so excited until I realized that the game was June 19...and we leave June 18. (This reflects that I'm feeling like I'm going to be missing things here when I'm gone...)

In the past few days I've told a few people that at times I'm "freaking out" about moving. They were surprised! Apparently I project a calm, organized, public personality, when actually inside, I'm chaos. So if you run into me, see if you can see the freak out underneath the calm!

However, through it all, I do believe that "everything will be ok" (my mantra).
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5 weeks...

I consider myself an expert at moving - this will be the 22nd time that I've moved in my lifetime! Don't feel sorry for me though, in spite of all those moves, I spent my childhood (first grade through graduation) in the same small town (Ukiah, California), and I've now lived in the same house in Beaverton for the past 13 years.

My point is that I could pack up a house and get ready to move with my eyes closed, I know how to do it so well. But this move is unlike any other....

Mike suggested that I write about "THE GREAT SORT." So I will. This move has nothing to do with packing (if fact we are NOT ALLOWED to pack) and everything to do with sorting.

Have you seen the TV show where they take everything in the house, move it onto the front lawn, and they sort it into piles before moving only the things they are keeping back inside? Well, I think we've now done the equivalent in our house (we skipped the front lawn part though...living in Oregon....rain....)

Every item in our house has been sorted and categorized:

1. Take on the airplane with us in a carry-on suitcase
2. Take on the airplane with us in a suitcase that we will need at the hotel
3. Take on the airplane with us in a suitcase/box that we won't need to open until we are at our new condo
4. Take to China, but can wait 2-6 weeks for it to arrive in air shipment packed by movers
5. Put into storage for 2 years - impossible to have access to it until it is out of storage
6. Store at parents' house (too precious for commercial storage or want access to it)
   
7. Sell on ebay
8. Sell on Craigslist
9. Give away to friends or relatives
10. Goodwill/Community Warehouse donations
11. Trash
    

(In spite of the 11 categories, I'm feeling like I left one out...)

I have to say, the kids have been great through it all - helping me sort through their rooms and giving away toys. Kevin even gave up his room when we turned it into "China" - the place where we are storing everything that will go to China.

I estimate that we've purged more than 5000 pounds of stuff! Whew! I haven't felt this organized and clutter free since I had kids! Maybe I should write a book..."Move to China and Declutter Your Life."

"China":













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Looking again at the Silver Lining...

Earlier I posted about looking at the "silver lining" in the "black cloud" of being rescheduled to leave for China...we were so bummed that we were delayed from January 1 to what we now know is June 18.

The biggest "silver lining" was being here when Chimay (our dog) passed away last week. She was a beautiful, spunky, loving yellow lab who lived all twelve years of her life in our house on Audrey. She went from a puppy who ate the couch, $100 remote, videotape, shoes, toys and baseboards (have you seen Marley?) to a sweet companion who followed us from room to room, comforted us when we were sad and slept on our bed every night from the time she was big enough to jump onto the bed (she was stubborn, we were tired).

To whomever made the decision to delay our trip: Thanks.



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6 weeks...

Questions I have:

1. How much mustard will I use in the next 6 weeks....should I buy more?
2. Why didn't I touch up paint the kitchen 8 years ago - it only took 20 minutes?
3. Should I store this sweater or give it away?
4. Why does my house look better than ever...and now I'm moving?
5. Who will be living in my house for the next 2 years?
6. How many burritos can I eat before I leave?
7. What will we do this summer?
8. Will the kids like their new school?
9. What will I drink for breakfast in China?
10. How far will I have to fly to buy new underwear?
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