Sunday, January 29, 2012

Whirlwind...............

For the past 10 days it has been a whirlwind of information around here. It holds a bunch of uncertainty. Changes from day to day. Caused a lot of insomnia as well, because I couldn't shut down my brain, too many things to think of. Why? you must be thinking..........well. It seems that come September my dear hubby will no longer have his great paying job here in Florida. BUT, there are a bunch of jobs going to be posted in Utah.............some 2200 miles away.

So, I told him I will start packing, lets go. This means I have to finish remodeling the rental house. The one that as of this moment has no kitchen, no bathrooms, no flooring, no paint, no light fixtures, no doors, no molding etc..... It is basically a box with sheetrock walls that aren't even finished being mudded yet. This also means, fixing up a few things around our own house as well. Also, going through and packing up a 3600 sq foot house. Getting BOTH houses sold. All in a matter of about 9 months! Also, Putting in for and getting a transfer for my job. Then moving 2200 miles with 4 BIG OL CRAZY DOGS! Oh yeah, did  I mention, have to get my daughters Jetta fixed, and sold. Gotta get a boat fixed and sold. When we move we have a travel trailer that we are using to move there, camping our way across country, I mean come on, have you ever seen anyone in a hotel with 4 BIG OL CRAZY DOGS???? Also 2 motorcycles gotta get across country too, and I told me husband it is his choice what he is doing with his 69' Mustang that is in about a million pieces in the workshop.

We have been wanting to move almost since we got here, almost 18 years ago. First we were really serious about it before 9-11. Then that happened and the job market sucked. Then he couldn't find a GREAT paying job to replace the one he had. Then the girls reached high school, and we told them we wouldn't move them once they reached high school. Well they are both graduated now. He has found another place that pays GREAT. It just happens to be a very beautiful place too. Within a 10 hour drive you can get to about 75% of the USA. So we are going to do what we can to make this happen. All he has to do is get the job in Utah and I think we are gone. I will definitely have my work cut out for me, But it will be SOOOOO worth it in the end.

He thought I was crazy as can be, had fallen off my rocker or something when I told him I would start packing. He is one that has to be grounded.......you know have a job, a place to live, everything in place before being able to hop on over to it. ME....hahaha! I jump with both feet, hope for the best, and pray there is something for my feet to land on when I land. We have been married for over 24 years now, and my way has never let us down yet. What do we have to lose? Life is all about the journey and adventures along the way. This will be one more wonderful one to add to the story books I am sure.

Look at that view!!!! I would love to live close enough to that to go whenever I wanted to. Did I ever mention, we love to camp. We love to go Jeepin too. We love to go on all day motorcycle excursions. Where better to do it than in a state that more than 75% of the state is a HUGE playground for people like us. So I will be spending a lot of time in the very near future purging every closet, drawer, box, nook and cranny, even more ruthlessly than I have been. Dividing things up of keeping, getting rid of if we move. Trashing, well I will just trash it now and be done with it, and if we don't move oh well. Already have a realtor sending me listings. Checking into POD type of moving costs. I already know which pieces of furniture are going and which ones aren't going. That was the easy part, got rid of half the house already :D (moving is a great way to get that new furniture you wanted) My oldest daughter can't wait for the day we move either, she will be getting most of the stuff we don't want. Don't know if she is too happy we will be 2200 miles across the country or not. I told her she was welcome to move to the same town as us, wouldn't bother us a bit.

Some people have asked..........You do know it snows there right? OF COURSE!!! I am counting on it! I am a yankee that has been transported to the south, and I don't do heat too well at all. For the past 12 years I have bugged my husband about wanting to move to Alaska, well Utah is close enough and probably as close as I am going to get, so I will take it.


When it snows it is just as beautiful, and there are even more things to add to the never ending list of things to do. We will enjoy ourselves even more. and I think even the 4 BIG OL CRAZY DOGS will love it too. I mean, maybe this will be them shortly after we get there. They have never seen snow before............

But I do know, as soon as it starts to snow Reesie will be in all her glory. She jumps at bugs at night time in the spring and summer when she sees them flying around. The other 3 snap at them too. Reesie goes nuts when you blow bubbles, so imagine her joy when there is snow falling like crazy too.

Needless to say, I haven't even seen my sewing room since my last finish, because all this came about the very next day. I need to put a label and a sleeve on it for the quilt show, and I have about a week left to do that. So that is top priority after work this week. Now that I am back to normal there too, been teaching the past two weeks, and that messes everything else up as well.

 Now that I have everything in chronological order in my head of what needs to be done over the next few months, I will be able to sleep more now too. That past 10 days have been exhausting. Also we got to see our best friends last night that moved away last year, and they are happy and are looking forward to flying out to Utah and visiting us. There are direct flights from Atlanta to Salt Lake City, yippeeeee! Well I have been up for the past 2 hours (in the middle of the night, again) So I am back to bed, so I can get up and get some things done today.

23 comments:

Jan Maree said...

Oh my lordy - I don't envy you the move! but you sound really keen so I am wishing you good luck. sounds to me like you have everything sorted in your head and I find that is half the battle. Keep us posted with what is happening please........looking forward to hearing all about the adventures!

Sue said...

Good on ya! It sounds exciting, wonderful and all kinds of good things. Like Jan-Maree said....keep us posted!

Shay said...

Um wow ...big changes in the wind for you Ann Marie. You sound excited about it and at this stage you have plenty of time (relatively speaking)

Enjoy the planning!

Amy said...

Ann Marie; what a time of reflection! I enjoyed reading through all your thoughts; it must have been a mix of feelings going through you as you typed it all.

I would love to continue hearing about your journey if/when you are able to find time to share your thoughts. And yes, Utah is beautiful! Our family hopes to someday vacation over there.

Kath said...

You're excitement comes bubbling through and is quite infectious!
I so hope this will work out for you and the dogs of course, who will ove it!
I will "watch this space"!

Kath x

Marlene said...

I do hope this all works out for you. Your excitement is oozing so go for it. Look forward to you logging the journey for us all to take the ride with you.

Heather said...

Oh my! Good luck with getting the house ready to move! I am sure everything will work out beautifully for you! I love camping too! I am glad you have some time to work on all this!

Heather

Angela said...

What an amazing and exciting adventure you are about to embark on. I hope your move all works out. The pictures in your post are stunning, what a beautiful place to live!!

Richard Healey said...

You will love Utah. I live in Salt Lake City just a mile or 2 from down town. Have lived in a variate of place's in the state and my wife is from southern Utah. We have it all and you will love it.

http://richardquilts.blogspot.com

Quilter Kathy said...

Very exciting news and tons of work ahead...no wonder you can't sleep!

Dee said...

What an adventure! I'm glad you're looking forward to it. That will make all the hassle of moving so much easier to deal with. Good luck with it all! It sounds like a handful.

Mrs A said...

Wow that will be fab, i too dont do heat well either, and live in a tropical climate prob just like florida, i would also love to move to a cooler climate, happy news for you!

Elizabeth said...

Utah!?! I've lived in Utah nearly my entire life, and I love it here. A while back, the slogan for the state was, "Utah. A pretty, great state," (the comma was intentional) and I just happen to agree! Good luck on getting everything done and having the transfer approved and a job for your husband. What a wonderful adventure!

Also, not sure what kind of boat you're trying to sell, but there are lakes in Utah ;). Just sayin'.

xo -E

BilboWaggins said...

Four years ago I was presented with exactly the same scenario (OK, only one house and one big old dog) but nine months to finish remodelling, pack, sell and move to the other end of the country.

I just viewed it as a different full-time job, got the work done, and I didn't see my sewing room for a year or so either.

Best of luck, you can do it. When you wake up to views of snow covered mountains as I did today you know it was all worth it.

mindingmomma said...

Wow! Good luck to you. Moves and job changes are not everyday activities. You make it sound like you can handle it!

Sarah said...

Life is definitly a journey and it sounds like you have your work cut out for you before moving but with those views I think you'll really enjoy Utah.

sunny said...

My sister lives in Utah, and it is a beautiful state! She's tried to get me to move there, but I can't because there's no ocean! Good luck with all your plans.

dorine said...

Do you know that most of the Daughters of Dorinda live in Utah? What fun to have you coming! Maybe we will actually get to meet you and see your gorgeous quilts in person! You will love it here!!

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

You have a lot on your plate right now but I think it sounds exciting and you definitely have the right frame of mind! I love cool weather much more than hot and imagine how much fun your dogs will have! I don't envy all the work you have ahead of you but it will be worth it! Hugs!

Julie Warner said...

Good luck! There is nothing like a major move to shake things up and give you a fresh perspective. And a husband with a good paying job he likes is worth just about anything.

Chris said...

Hi Ann-Marie, wow, you sure have a lot to think about and even more to plan. I wish you well. It's not easy making a big move like that. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.com/

Chatterbox Quilts said...

Just catching up on my blog reading, Ann Marie - wow, looks like you're going to be even busier for the next few months. You'll be moving closer out to my end of the continent (although still a little bit south). I'm sure you're going to love it in Utah and there are lots of great quilters there too - and don't forget that Superior Threads is in St. George!

Susan J Barker said...

Thanks for coming to visit my blog! Your writing certainly lets we readers know how excited you are for this step in life! Wait til your dogs learn to plow the snow with their noses! I'm sure it is fun to do with a nose like that and I KNOW it is fun to watch them do it. Oh, and remember theres nothing in Florida that you can't replace in Utah...

I am putting you on my rss feed so I can keep track of your story -- it sounds so fun (and lots of work)