the move...

Moving across the country poses quite the challenges. First, you must procure housing in a city you are typically unfamiliar with. Then comes the logistics of moving one's personal effects over the Mississippi, across the Great Plains, over the Rockies, and finally to the pinpoint spot that is to become one's new home. Finally, you have to get yourself out there and bring all of these logistical challenges to a close.

I have to say that I am quite proud of myself for navigating these challenges. I did LOTS of research online and found an apartment building that I fell in love with. I rented an apartment sight unseen and am confident I made the right decision. The ability to rent without a house-hunting trip surely saved me several hundred dollars.

I sorted and purged and packaged all of my personal belongings. The storage building in South Carolina is no more - it has been vacated and all of its contents sorted through. Furniture went to Alabama (my wonderful bed, that I already miss by the way, is at my mother's house just waiting for my next visit). Lots of decoration items and clothing are set for a yard sale TBD by my mom. A glimpse of my personal life can be found at the Goodwill in Atlanta, GA.

All of this purging and packing left me with 8 boxes + my desktop computer that are currently in the midst of making their way across the country via USPS and UPS. I look forward to their arrival to add some additional pieces of me to this rather empty apartment.

My car is being shipped across the country as well. The transport company gave me quite a scare last week when they called and said they would not be able to pick up the car as previously scheduled. Fortunately, my gracious coworker and friend Laura agreed to take care of the car pickup for me, since my flight was already booked to PDX. They should be picking the car up on Monday or Tuesday.

So all of the challenges, for the most part, have been met and I am now a resident of Portland, OR. This could not have been accomplished without the help of awesome family and friends, who all had a part in helping me out.

Cheers to the adventures that await me here on the West Coast...