It's officially time to start the moving process. My last day as a Florida resident will be May 2nd and the clock is ticking. E(my husband) is in St. Louis visiting as many places as possible until we find one we can call home. I'm thanking God for technology right now. I can't imagine trying to organize my life without all of the apps and websites I've been using. Flipping through the yellow pages and mailing documents back and forth would make this process a nightmare.
I have received numerous questions about how this whole process is working for us and I have so many tips to share. Once this process is complete I will create a relocation/moving guide and provide resources that I am sure you will find helpful in many ways. Things are much easier the second time around!!! Our first relocation was from Delaware to Florida and I'm not as worried as I was three years ago. I would have had a cow back then. We don't know where we are living in May and I'm not stressed about it. Just anxious. During my last trip we visited several homes but the timing was too far out. Boss lady (daughter) had a blast though. She thought it was hilarious going from one house to another and wanted to know where her grandparents, aunts and uncles were going to sleep if they came to visit "Home Louis". I don't know where she got it from but now we are all calling St. Louis...."Home Louis". So cute! I adore how family oriented she is already! The neighborhoods and homes we visited were all beautiful. Most had built in book shelves in the living room or bedroom which I absolutely LOVED. Each place had so much character. The biggest challenge in most areas was parking. Coming from Florida all I could think of was the cold winters. I refuse to spend late nights or cold days looking for parking. A drive way, guaranteed parking spot or garage is an absolute MUST.
I have received numerous questions about how this whole process is working for us and I have so many tips to share. Once this process is complete I will create a relocation/moving guide and provide resources that I am sure you will find helpful in many ways. Things are much easier the second time around!!! Our first relocation was from Delaware to Florida and I'm not as worried as I was three years ago. I would have had a cow back then. We don't know where we are living in May and I'm not stressed about it. Just anxious. During my last trip we visited several homes but the timing was too far out. Boss lady (daughter) had a blast though. She thought it was hilarious going from one house to another and wanted to know where her grandparents, aunts and uncles were going to sleep if they came to visit "Home Louis". I don't know where she got it from but now we are all calling St. Louis...."Home Louis". So cute! I adore how family oriented she is already! The neighborhoods and homes we visited were all beautiful. Most had built in book shelves in the living room or bedroom which I absolutely LOVED. Each place had so much character. The biggest challenge in most areas was parking. Coming from Florida all I could think of was the cold winters. I refuse to spend late nights or cold days looking for parking. A drive way, guaranteed parking spot or garage is an absolute MUST.
The flexibility of my job is definitely a huge benefit right now. I'm using a few of my vacation days so I can have four day weekends for the remainder of my employment which will be through the month of April. The transfer opportunity is looking slim and I'm prepared for that outcome. My supervisor has been extremely supportive through this process and I know if an opportunity ever presents itself I'll be able to jump right back in. If the transfer is unsuccessful I plan to own the moment of not having to report to work every day and spend the next 2-3 months focusing on my family, the household, networking, getting to know my new town and finding an employer that will challenge me in new ways.
April hasn't even begun and the month already seems gone. The month started to fill up in December. I keep appointments, activities and events organized on a hanging calendar in my bedroom as well as my phone. At the beginning of each month I copy it all to my planner. I hate to see scratch marks and edits on paper so I find it best to wait until everything is finalized. Currently my focus is on notifying contacts who need to be informed (daughter's school, doctors, utilities and so on) of my departure in April and making any last minute doctor appointments. I started to purge items in January but there is more to go. So every chance I get I'm organizing and making trips to the goodwill, consignment shops or the dumpster. The less we have to pack the better.
In between our moving plans we've managed to make time to have some fun and celebrate the success and accomplishments of some good friends!!!! There are two formal events to attend. We are meeting in DC to witness our college friend exchange vows with his beautiful wife to be and my daughter and I are flying to St. Louis one last time before we move to attend an inaugural ball and of course finalize our housing plans. Thanks to Style Seat I have make up and hair appointments ready and prepared. It's amazing what you can accomplish in five minutes when you have the right tools! There are also a few birthdays to celebrate and I'm making a list (smh yea I know) of things I want to do one last time or for the first time before I leave Florida! Some activities are simple and some are extreme! I'll keep you posted!
Let the countdown begin and CHEERS to new beginnings!!!!!
April hasn't even begun and the month already seems gone. The month started to fill up in December. I keep appointments, activities and events organized on a hanging calendar in my bedroom as well as my phone. At the beginning of each month I copy it all to my planner. I hate to see scratch marks and edits on paper so I find it best to wait until everything is finalized. Currently my focus is on notifying contacts who need to be informed (daughter's school, doctors, utilities and so on) of my departure in April and making any last minute doctor appointments. I started to purge items in January but there is more to go. So every chance I get I'm organizing and making trips to the goodwill, consignment shops or the dumpster. The less we have to pack the better.
In between our moving plans we've managed to make time to have some fun and celebrate the success and accomplishments of some good friends!!!! There are two formal events to attend. We are meeting in DC to witness our college friend exchange vows with his beautiful wife to be and my daughter and I are flying to St. Louis one last time before we move to attend an inaugural ball and of course finalize our housing plans. Thanks to Style Seat I have make up and hair appointments ready and prepared. It's amazing what you can accomplish in five minutes when you have the right tools! There are also a few birthdays to celebrate and I'm making a list (smh yea I know) of things I want to do one last time or for the first time before I leave Florida! Some activities are simple and some are extreme! I'll keep you posted!
Let the countdown begin and CHEERS to new beginnings!!!!!