Dear Gentle Readers,
I know, I know. It’s been over a year since I’ve written. My sincerest apologies. This Elf has been busier than a three-legged cat in a sandbox. Things here at the North Pole South, a.k.a. Washington state, have been a bit of a whirlwind–to say the least.
As most of us will admit, moving a domicile is a pain in the butt, especially when it’s across the country. Moving a business is a special version of that posterior irritation. Moving both involves words that I can’t include here because the younger set may read my blog.
Moving both TWICE in one year just about did me in.
Add to that having a parent (the reason for said move) running around trying to do everything in her power to prove to you (and herself) that she doesn’t need you makes the stress level increase to break-down level proportions. But that story is for another blog entry.
Back to Move #1.
The moving van picked up our stuff on a Sunday. We cleaned the old townhouse the following Monday and left Texas the next day. We anticipated a 4-day drive. We even anticipated the possibility that the van would beat us to Washington state. What we didn’t predict was the hubster contracting walking pneumonia on the trip, the van operator being so new that he messed up our delivery, and the basement of my mother’s house, where we were to stay for the next 8 months, not being quite ready for us.
As Woody said to Buzz in Toy Story upon being left behind by Andy, “This is a perfect time to panic.”
After my initial freak-out–and a lot of wine–I got to work. Repairs were made. Carpet was replaced in the master bedroom because the old stuff was moldy from a water leak. More wine was imbibed. Movers were hired to help me pull every box out of the basement and sort out where they really should go. (Did I mention that the stacks were up to the ceiling, leaving only a person’s width walkway, or that the boxes WERE marked house or storage? Like I said, the van driver was new.) Furniture was set up. Friends were called. Shoulders were cried on. Boxes were sorted at the storage place too. Even more wine was imbibed.
At the end of a month, I had a working studio and functional living area. Huzzah!
The actual business of running a business then began–making suits, finding new local vendors, contacting local clients, making new friends with bridal salons, etc. In the middle of all this, we interviewed real estate agents and got to know the local housing market.
Then the house of our dreams dropped into our laps.
We got the first real estate agent to call us back to get us an appointment to see the house. Unfortunately, he was VERY inexperienced . . . but more on that later.
Not sure how often this happens, but as soon as the hubster and I walked in the door of this house, we BOTH thought, “We’re home!”
So the roller coaster began anew.
I swear, the only sane voice through the whole buying process was the title officer. The real estate agent was no help due to his inexperience. The loan officer was no help, especially since she and her admin couldn’t keep our answers straight and kept asking for things multiple times. The movers were no help. Their truck broke down, and they had to move us in two stages. The only helpful person was my mom’s neighbor . . . bless him. He painted the bedroom, cleaned up the floors, moved things around in the garage, put together the bed and my desk, and did a handful of other small things.
Setting up shop again eight months later . . . I’m quite certain I kept the local liquor store in business that month.
I know some of you are wondering about my heart in all of this.
Was I scared to move my business and my life across the country? Terrified!
Was I afraid all the old ghosts would rear their ugly heads and add more to my already full plate? Beside myself!
Was I worried the whole exercise would be for naught? Absolutely!
Am I glad I did it? You bet!
Do I want to do it again? (Insert VERY large sigh here.) No.
Is that realistic? Oh, heck no.
Until next time, Dear Reader, may your seams be straight and your bobbins stay full, and, above all, be KIND to one another.
Heather