A Smooth Move? Not So Much...

The Army has played games with me since I became associated with it through marriage. In my first year as an Army Wife, I moved three times. After that year, I settled into a more normal cycle of moves and I hit my stride as "Moving Goddess," which was quite an accomplishment given my history of disastrous moves. I've come a long way baby, or so I thought.

Just as I hit my stride, the Army plopped us into the Washington, DC area and decided to leave us there for an unheard of five+ years. Wicked sense of humor, those Army folks. Just when I know how to move efficiently, they decide to deprive me of putting my new skill to good use. We all know that if you don't use skills, over time they weaken, which has, unfortunately, occurred in my case.

I've known about this upcoming move for months, and I was off to a good start, but somewhere along the way, I lost my momentum. I feel your pain, Guard Wife...

I recently looked at the calendar and said, "holy cow, I'm moving in mere days and I've done nothing except purchase those ziploc bags that always come in so handy." Panic has overcome mojo, and that's not a good thing in this case.

I'm a list person, have a list for everything. It's highly annoying to some, but it's really the only way I can function. So, I reach for my move to-do list, knowing that it'll be okay once I have my hands on it. The problem? The list wasn't there. It hadn't even been created. Panic.

Oh no, what to do?

Why, search for a ready-made list, of course. I found one too. A good one. But there's even a problem with that. I'm at the three week mark (list #4 on the "smooth move checklist") and I now have to go back and make-up for lists 1-3. Panic. Panic.

To make this situation even more stressful, I'm going to be on vacation for 2/3 of the days leading up to my move, which leaves me even less time to do more. Panic. Panic. Panic.

I am highly disappointed in myself. I am no longer a Moving Goddess and I'm an embarrassment to the military spouse community. I have shamed us all, and for that, I sincerely apologize (she types with her head hung low).

I mentioned that the Army has a wicked sense of humor. So too does my husband. On Sunday we looked at the calendar to plan our vacation route.

I think we'll return on the __th, he says, and he's dead serious.

I raise my eyebrows. He still doesn't get it.

We cannot return on the __th, the packers will be here the next day.

Yeah, that gives us one day to get ready for the move. That's all we need.

That's not nearly enough time. I have to segregate things out, get things ready for our tenants, there are a million things to do (most of which should already have been done, but I don't admit that.)

Nah, we'll be fine, he says.

Panic. Panic. Panic. Panic.

It's going to be a very rough move.

Damn you, Army. Damn you. Letting me get complacent like this and stripping me of my Moving Goddess title.... I shall not forget this! I will have the last laugh one day. Just you wait...      

Comments

[LAW]

um... vacation/moving... this is NOT a good scenario. yes, I too have not moved in Lo, these many years... I'm hoping we are moving soon... I'll panic later.

LAW

[Linda]

we try desperately to avoid "vacation moves"...NOT good stuff.

You have NOT shamed the military spouse community. No matter HOW well you do things, it will never be perfect. I live for 2 gallon ziplocs (and OMG, I am totally enamoured with the XL, XXL bags now too!), space bags, and rubbermaid totes...I seem to get more of them with every move. But no matter how well I do getting "ready", I'm still running like a chicken with my head cut off....good luck!

[SigGal]

They really will move you as you are - planning or not. And you can do what you REALLY have to do while they are packing up - it takes days. You have a good sense of humor and that, imo, is the key ingredient.

My best to you, Andi! Keep joking - SERIOUSLY :)

p.s. Those humongous suitcase size ziplocks rock!

[Jewel]

Andi, look at it this way...maybe the reason you've put off getting ready for your move is because, being the Moving Goddess that you are, you don't need all the extra time anymore. You have everything down to an exact science so it takes no time at all for you to prepare for your packers. You have become such a pro that moving is second nature to you. There now, don't you feel better? ;)

[Andi]

Yes ladies, you are right. A vacation/PCS combo is not a good one.

SigGal - Have to laugh to avoid crying.

Jewel - I LIKE the way you think...

[Non-Essential Equipment]

I feel your pain.

We are supposedly packing out on Friday. But Transportation has yet to confirm our move date. So either they'll show up on Friday or they won't.

In the meantime, we don't even have a new place to live yet.

Gotta love the Army!

[airforcewife]

Ahhh, the last minute moving shuffle. :)

My helpful hint for the day - if you play the Indiana Jones theme song while you are getting stuff done around the house, it somehow imbues you with a superhuman ability to pack and clean more quickly. If you don't have the CD hum it.

Seriously - it really works.

Actually, I think that is a good theme song for milspouses in general.

[Air Force Wife Lauren]

Don't feel shamed for what they are sending you to do! Don't they move you as you are? Look at it this way...if you had 3 months of prep time, then that would all end up as 3 months of stress time. You'll be fine! xoxo

[Some Soldier's Mom]

you will be MAH-velous, DAHling! when it gets tough, stop a minute, pour a drink (preferably alcoholic) and say, "Today I will do what I can do today. Tomorrow will take care of itself."

[wendy]

That makes my tummy clench just thinking about it! But you can do it, and guess what, if you don't get it all sorted and organized and donated and perfect, it will all be waiting for you at the other end of the move!

Don't forget the disinfecting bathroom wipes...movers...ew...

[Andi]

Progress, ladies, progress. I got all the batteries bagged up in a huge ziploc. One thing down, 999 to go...

[Mrs G]

It's like riding a bike, at the last minute it will all come back to you.
Love the ziplocks, and the lists. The "Smooth Move" list is a good one however to put a section in more detail, it mentions hand carring finance records, be sure that includes last year's tax return. Especially if you're planning on buying a home. But you probably know that.

The only thing I see that is important in the list #1-3 you might need to do is:

-Make an inventory of possessions and valuable items AND PHOTOGRAGH

-Forwarding address to post office ~If you haven't found a new residence yet, obtain a post office box or forwarding address for your mail until you have a permanent address.

-Close out any local charge accounts. (Bank accts. Utilities, Newspaper)

-Start organizing personal records like birth certificates, insurance papers, POA or warranties.

-Throw out or donate unwanted items or clothes.

The rest you've probably already done or it can wait til you get to your destination.
Really that's not much, definetly no need to panic. (breath)

I also recommend vast amounts of alcohol but not as a stress reliver, just for the hell of it:)

[Teresa]

If you need any other lists, Richmond (at One for the Road blog) is the queen of moving and has lists for everything. For that matter, she's moving too - the closing on her old house is today! Let me know if you want any of them, I'll put you in touch. *grin*

Since I moved last year for the first time in 10 years - you have all my sympathy. At the end of the day, whether you like it or not, you will be moved! (that's what they told me last year - heh) Hang in there.