We’re On the Clock!

Hi everyone. It’s been a little more than a month since my last entry, and the time is flying by. I wrapped up my job at Malala Fund, and my days are a largely open, but they go faster than I would prefer. It’s really amazing how quickly days go by when you don’t have a specific job you do day in and day out. Oh, how the days are going by! We are wheels up on June 30!

We rented a storage unit, which we have already done a nice job of filling up. Our house is starting to finally show signs of us removing things. We’ve moved some larger furniture items already as well as some chairs, and keepsakes. We’ve decided a relatively small monthly fee is worth it for three years at which point we’ll know if we’re coming back to the states or stay abroad in either Bangkok or elsewhere.

We’ve decided against shipping anything for the move. There are too many uncertainties with shipping, and we want to go over with as little as possible. If there’s anything we desperately need, we can easily obtain it in Bangkok. We’re a little bummed we won’t be bringing any artwork over this time, but we think it’s for the best. We’ll find other ways of decorating the walls. Maybe this will be the inspiration I need to finally get going with some photography that I can print and hang on the walls.

We’re in a strange vortex right now of needing to hurry up and get things done, but also knowing we need certain necessities still here at the house for as long as possible. We’ve done an admirable job of being far less discriminating with our crap and have donated a TON of stuff. Every day is a new realization at just how much useless crap we accumulate over the years. Some random thing gets purchased, used once, then thrown into a drawer not to be seen again until it’s time to purge. I really hope this sets up a new lifestyle going forward of, while not necessary minimalist, something adjacent to it. If and when we do finally settle again in a long term situation, I anticipate we’ll be far more choosy about what we bring into our home.

I spent the weekend emptying out my dresser and closet. I’m donating 75% of the clothes I own. The remaining clothes I’m keeping will likely not fill an entire large suitcase! That just means I won’t have to pay an extra bag fee for my golf clubs. Or my guitar. Hehe.

Kate and I also dismantled the bunkbeds we had in each boy’s room. It’s astonishing how much space those damn things take up. The house looks so much bigger now without the beds and other items we’ve put into storage.

I finished completely emptying the attic a few weeks ago, and am nearly done emptying our laundry/utility room of all the junk that was there. I’m pretty proud of those two feets. Those were intimidating, but it’s done now. All that’s left is bringing a bunch of paint and chemicals to the dump.

The kitchen is what intimidates me at this point. We won’t be bringing our pots and pans, or my nice kitchen knives. We’ll put them in storage for now. But we cook pretty frequently, so it’s tough deciding what we’re getting rid of or storing.

Timing everything right now is the largest stressor. We need to figure out when to finish emptying out the place. We could do it pretty quickly, but don’t want to be left without some necessary items prior to leaving. We need to schedule our contractor to come in, though, to paint the interior of our house as well as change the carpets. And we need to do all of this with enough time to get the place on the market and rented out. I really want it rented by July 1, but not sure if that’s going to be feasible with our schedule.

We’re likely to stay in a hotel the week before we move to make sure the contractors have time to get it ready, the property management company time to find a tenant, and get it rented. As much as I’ll miss my own bed, that last week should be somewhat relaxing. We’ll be fully out of the house and the work of emptying it will have been done. We’ll be fully packed. All that will be left is to pass the time until we board the plane, while the rest of the work will be in other people’s hands (which I have a really difficult time with. Our contractor is great, but I’ve learned through past experiences that I need to be involved to make sure everything is going as it should and on time.)

I’ll be talking to the property management company tomorrow to get their thoughts on showing the place prior to it being ready, in the hopes of securing a tenant. Fingers crossed!

Also on my mind is finishing up the paperwork items. I’ll be spending this week working on the visa application. I think I’ve compiled all the necessary paperwork. Now it’s just a matter of filing it online. Hopefully I’ll have everything wrapped up in a nice bow for Kate, and all she’ll have to do is sign the documentation to submit it.

It’s getting close, but still seems so far away…