Shifting the focus (Moving: Day 2)

As mentioned in previous posts, I am in the process of moving from job-searching (based in Seattle, WA, and Atlanta, GA) to my new job (in Northeast New Mexico). I am also transitioning from being a graduate student (in Laramie, WY) to the afore-mentioned job.

A lot of my most recent focus has been relief. Relief that I have something lined up after a such a long (four months) period of uncertainty, joblessness, and lack of a paycheck (= relying on my parents in my mid-30s. Doesn't feel good. AND I'm so grateful for them). The relief of having secured a position, of signing a contract, has been so welcome that I have actually dropped the ball on other goals I'd set for myself that had been anxiety-based.

Moving sucks (Moving: Day 1)

'Moving sucks...' like that's new information. Quick list of today's suckitude:

1. Leaving at 3:50 a.m. Which meant that I had to wake up at 3:00 a.m.

2. Yowling cat.

3. Realizing before my dad wanted me to take a driving shift that I had packed my driver's license (and debit card. And my mother's Sam's card) somewhere in the moving van. (Upside? Found it when I opened my first box!!)

4. Realizing I offended/hurt my mother to the point of tears when I jokingly referred to her as a 'nervous passenger' (although she is!!). She spent the rest of the day offering to drive, but revoking the offer because "I know it would drive you two crazy."

5. Having someone try to steal our trailer while we had a family dinner at Chili's.

It's over now. and mom and dad and I had quality family time. Or something. Now I'm going to refresh my glass of wine and go to bed.

The last time I moved across the country in winter

I have moved or helped others move across the country nine times. Next week (make that tomorrow) my parents and I will make that number a solid '10' when we leave Georgia, cat in tow, to head to New York and remove most of my worldly possessions from storage in Brooklyn, and then head back west to New Mexico. There I hope to establish a new and somewhat... I don't know... adult? respectable...? life.

The seventh time I crossed the country was on behalf of a friend and her lab/german shepard mix who were moving from Athens, GA to Denver, CO. In the winter. We left two days before the New Year of 2007, in H's rear-wheel-drive truck with a U-Haul trailer loaded with her household fixings with which she would establish her new home. Assuming we made it there.

I had lived in Laramie, WY for eight years by that point and was somewhat familiar with winter driving. Not saying I was good at winter driving as I had spun out on ice (no injuries to self or auto) twice prior to our journey, but as H was a Georgia native, it made sense for me to drive when things got snowy.

And things got very snowy.