The UPSIDE Of Moving
Well, I am quite sure you all remember my moving woes since I’ve been telling stories about them almost since the day we started Plotmonkeys. We’ve packed up all our stuff in dribs and drabs over the past two years. I have a basement full of boxes at one sister’s house. A garage full at another’s. A huge storage unit, and a bursting-at-the-seams POD. Basically, all of our stuff is strewn about the state…though, at least after hubby’s trip to Florida last month, it’s all now in ONE state.
Finally, though, after all the trials and tribulations, we’re about to have the big payoff…
We’ve bought a house!! YAY! 
And not only that, it’s a house I absolutely LOOOOVE. Way nicer than the one we left behind in Florida, and I am so very excited about it. We don’t close until the end of June, so we have a month left, then it’s all of us living in our own home for the first time in two years. (Hubby was up here for the first year working in a new job while our oldest finished out high school. Then this past year we’ve been living with family because we couldn’t sell the FL house until last month!)
Anyway, there’s a light…no, make that a blazing star at the end of this very long tunnel. While I have honestly loved getting to re-connect with my incredible sisters (it’s been like a big slumber party with your best gal pal, to be honest!) it’ll be wonderful having my own furniture and my own dishes and my own bedroom WITH A DOOR. (Wahoo, honey, eh?)
Unfortunately, the big move in April was insane and we ran out of room, so we ended up trashing SO much stuff that I am now faced with having to replace. We don’t own a single trash can (they all ended up in the trash.) No laundry baskets. No lawnmower. No bikes. No office desk. No file cabinet. Two rooms of furniture were given away (and we’re moving into a much bigger house!) No outside patio stuff. The buyers of our old house wanted all my pretty palm bathroom accessories, so that’s gone. We’re starting from scratch in the kitchen fridge & pantry of course (oh, my poor, sad little spice cabinet…) No cleaning supplies. I am pretty sure my Swiffer bit the dust in Florida, and if my vacuum cleaner survived that last insane house-cleaning, then being tossed into the back of the POD, I’ll be stunned. No ironing board…oh, wait, frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn about the ironing board.
So, uh, as you can imagine, we’ve been doing a whole lot of shopping. But I guess I can’t complain about that because it’s been a lot of fun, too! (“Umh, yeah, honey, I am sure we had a gorgeous baker’s rack/wine table like this in Florida that we just have to replace…don’t you remember?”)
Yes. It’s getting pricey. But you know what? I don’t care! I am a month from living in my very own house again!
Celebrate with me!!
WAHOO!
WhooHoo!!!
I’m so happy for you. What I still can’t believe is how you’ve written during the past two years. Proof, once again that we all can make the time and find the space. You’re amazing!!
I can’t wait to see pics of the new house and right before Nationals.
Comment by Vicki — May 28, 2007 @ 7:29 am
Even though you need to replace a lot of stuff, the idea of going shopping sounds like fun.
Barb
Comment by BadBarb — May 28, 2007 @ 8:19 am
Congrats on the new house Leslie!!! Can’t wait to see the pictures of the new house. Have fun shopping too.
Comment by Liza — May 28, 2007 @ 8:24 am
WTG on the new digs, Leslie! It sounds just lovely. Can’t wait for pics.
Comment by Stacy ~ — May 28, 2007 @ 9:09 am
I am soooooo excited for you! And once again, our cyber twiness shows. We moved about the same time you did, and although its my own house I’ve had to get rid of so much stuff. We couldn’t afford to build the “dream” house so we built a smaller house that will be converted to guest/pool house when we build the other house.
We moved from a 2600 sq. ft. house to a 1000 sq. ft. house. I stored a bunch of stuff, gave a bunch away and had a couple of yard sales. The stuff that is in storage is mostly personal things that I couldn’t bare to get rid of so when we build the “main” house I will be in the same situation.
Although I do have all my kitchen stuff - which I could happily send to you since I don’t ever use it - I will need to buy almost all new furniture since all I kept was a futon and a chair, plus our bedroom stuff which will just stay in this house.
But that is a looooonnnnggg way off in my future (I’m actually trying to convince hubby to stay in this house, it is so much easier to clean!). I hope you’re having a great time shopping and I’m so excited that you’re going to have your own house - and bedroom door!
Happy Memorial Day everyone and to everyone who has served, currently is, or have family members who are - THANK YOU!!!
Comment by Jodie — May 28, 2007 @ 9:47 am
Thanks all! I am very excited!
Jodie, that’s a huge difference in size! But yeah, I think even I could manage to keep 1000 sq ft clean.
And I will definitely post pics when I get some!
PS: Some comments have been hitting the spam folder this morning. I went in and approved some, but they’re still not showing up here. Major apologies to anyone who got blocked!
Comment by Leslie — May 28, 2007 @ 9:52 am
Congrats on the house. That’s great.
Comment by Stacy S — May 28, 2007 @ 10:00 am
Clean????
Comment by ev — May 28, 2007 @ 10:08 am
Have fun shopping for the new house. Isn’t it a great feeling to finally have everyone together?
Comment by Carol R — May 28, 2007 @ 10:10 am
I’m so happy for you, Leslie.
How exciting to begin a new chapter of your life with free regin to shop.
Comment by Heather Harper — May 28, 2007 @ 10:27 am
Congratulations, Leslie!
We moved into a much larger home too and before long we didn’t know how we managed to live in the smaller one.
Enjoy the shopping and the bedroom door!
Comment by Susan — May 28, 2007 @ 11:22 am
YEAH, LES!!!!
This whole process has been so excruciating for you and your family, but the end is finally in SIGHT!!! I’m so happy for you. There is truly nothing better than living in your own home, and the one you’ve found is absolutely GORGEOUS!!!
Have fun shopping!!!
Comment by Janelle — May 28, 2007 @ 11:23 am
Leslie, How wonderful for you that you have finally found a house that you love, &, more particularly, a bedroom door…! Listening to your house travails over the last couple of years it says a great deal about your love for Bruce, & his for you, that your marriage has survived the long separation. &, great news that it’ll be a family intact, in your own home, soon! Have a wonderful time replenishing your missing equipment, & I am looking forward to seeing some great pix of the new home.
Patricia A.
Comment by Patricia — May 28, 2007 @ 11:57 am
I am so thrilled for you finding a new home that you love. I know it is a lot of work moving into a new place, but at the same time it is so exciting shopping for new things for the house, having the whole family together and turning the house into your family’s home.
Comment by Shari C — May 28, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
Hey Leslie,
I am so happy for you.
Your excitement came thru loud and clear in your blog.
You made me smile.
I’m sure your husband is so looking forward to
He’s probably not going to notice those
little extra purchases.
A new house should always contain
But it cerainly deserves a new vac, ironing board and
bathroom accessories.
Looking forward to all the moving in blogs here!
Comment by jeannie — May 28, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
Comment by Yolanda — May 28, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
Hooray for you and your family, Leslie!! That’s fantastic! Nice way to celebrate this long weekend
Comment by Fedora — May 28, 2007 @ 1:24 pm
Yey, Leslie! I have lived in my house for two years, now and we still haven’t unloaded all of the boxes. I still want to use my springform pan and blender (I have no clue where they are!). I am actually about ready to go out and get new ones..lol…hubby would HATE that!
Comment by katie — May 28, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
Cindy Gerard’s Bodyguard series is what I’m reading.
1-4 down and one more to read (#5 Under the Wire)
before the newest release tomorrow, “Into the Dark”.
They got better as they went along.
And I am so into this series now.
My favorites so far are Eve’s and Ethan’s stories.
Until the next one right?
Comment by jeannie — May 28, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
Yea!
Leslie, I am so happy for you that you have found a house you love & will be moving soon. Have fun shopping for new things. 
Thanks to all those that are serving or have served in the military. Last night I watched the Memorial Day Concert on PBS it always brings tears when I think about all the men & women that have served our country. We cannot thank them enough. :love2:
Comment by Donna M — May 28, 2007 @ 2:39 pm
Leslie - you misunderstood. I didn’t say I keep it clean. I said it is much easier “to clean.”
Like if company is coming or I just can’t stand it anymore. I can whip through it in about an hour.
Comment by Jodie — May 28, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
Congratulations Leslie! That’s very exciting
Have a fun time shopping and making the house a home.
Comment by Robin — May 28, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
Oy…the shopping for the new house just got more expensive. Went out and bought a beautiful leather sofa & loveseat. But the good news is it’s used–but in GREAT condition.
I love Craigslist.
Comment by Leslie — May 28, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
Again, I say clean?????
Comment by ev — May 28, 2007 @ 7:12 pm
Yeah
I’m so happy for you!
It sounds like fun, buying everything new….and starting fresh! And a DOOR! I’ll bet you will feel like newlyweds again
Enjoy!!
Comment by Tina Martinesi — May 28, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
lol Tina…I dunno about newlyweds, BUT a door will at least make us feel like we’re not about to be walked in on at any minute.
Comment by Leslie — May 28, 2007 @ 8:16 pm
Comment by Elisa — May 29, 2007 @ 1:12 am
Congrats on the new house!! But think of the buying spree fun and several shiny new things to put in your new house.
Comment by Lynn Matherly — May 29, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
Elisa…where do they live? Don’t suppose they have a lawnmower for sale (that’s one of the things we left behind…forgot to mention it!)
Comment by Leslie — May 29, 2007 @ 11:19 pm
Congrats Leslie! Your “sad little spice cabinet” comment caught my eye. My company sells a nice unit called the SpiceStack that sits in your kitchen cabinet or pantry and organizes all of your spices in their original containers. It sells for $34.95 with FREE shipping and handling on our website. It could clean up your sad spices in a second! Good luck with the rest of the buying.
Comment by Lauren — May 30, 2007 @ 11:55 am