Five hours of whirlwind cleaning on Saturday proved to be enough that I could walk away from our little house and begin our new journey in Idaho. Although I had been telling C all week that I didn't want to be getting on the road late in the day (anytime after 4pm), we set sail about 4:45. The two of us, each in our own vehicles, me with the whiney dogs and C towing the boat. Both packed to the gills with the stuff the movers wouldn't take and the stuff we couldn't bear to part with for 4 days.
Thankfully the drive went smoothly, taking a little less than 5 hours. We battled some rain and traffic through Salt Lake City (as always, the traffic that is) but were welcomed by the beautiful scenery in Idaho just as the sun was setting.
All in all, the company condo is nice and will suit us fairly well until we can find a house to buy. The dogs are in heaven--the front window is low and provides a wonderful view of the canal and it's resident flock of ducks and there is a set of stairs to race up and down. Which of course lead to the unfinished basement where all 3 boys can run around and make a ton of noise, all unheard by the neighbors.
Two major problems though.
#1 -- We assumed that we'd put the boat in garage (two-car) and then use the rest of it for storing the stuff the movers are dropping off tomorrow. Clothes, kitchen stuff, etc. will come in the house for use but appliances, furniture and other heavy items would be stored in the garage. Other random boxed could be moved to the basement if needed. The whole point was to make the next move as easy on us as possible. This would have worked wonderfully if the condo had the two parking spaces out front that most condos do. Actually almost all of them in our complex have parking in front of their garages. Why is it not surprising that ours is the misfit? Our garage sets behind the condo, backing up to an alley. You have to come in the alley to get into the garage and you can then walk through the garage to get into the kitchen. No parking at all besides the garage. Unless of course you want to park something out in the back lot on the other side of the canal. So it looks like one vehicle will be relegated to that dirt parking lot (probably C's) and my car and the boat will co-habitate in the garage. Hopefully we can maneuver everything so at least the appliances and the heaviest pieces of furniture will still be able to stay in the garage. Hopefully.
#2 -- Ties in very closely to problem #1. We were told that off the back of the condo was a small deck and then a yard. Which we assumed would be acceptable for the dogs to play in and use for obvious reasons. I'm seeing a pattern here and it's obvious to me that we shouldn't have assumed a dang thing! The kitchen door does open onto a deck. However the deck encompasses the entire space between the condo and the garage. Leaving absolutely no space to turn the dogs loose into. This means that anytime the dogs need to go out, we must take them on their leashes to find a suitable grassy area. I know, for many people (apartment-dwellers) this is an everyday ritual for them. But unfortunately for us, we've been extremely spoiled. Our house had a large, fenced-in yard. I could just open the back door and turn them loose for as long as they wanted to be outside. Or as long as I needed them to be outside. Guess that will just be an adjustment.
Both problems are not insurmountable but are just adding a little extra stress at the moment. I guess, if anything, it just means that we'll be much more enthusiastic and driven in our search for a new place.
Thankfully the drive went smoothly, taking a little less than 5 hours. We battled some rain and traffic through Salt Lake City (as always, the traffic that is) but were welcomed by the beautiful scenery in Idaho just as the sun was setting.
All in all, the company condo is nice and will suit us fairly well until we can find a house to buy. The dogs are in heaven--the front window is low and provides a wonderful view of the canal and it's resident flock of ducks and there is a set of stairs to race up and down. Which of course lead to the unfinished basement where all 3 boys can run around and make a ton of noise, all unheard by the neighbors.
Two major problems though.
#1 -- We assumed that we'd put the boat in garage (two-car) and then use the rest of it for storing the stuff the movers are dropping off tomorrow. Clothes, kitchen stuff, etc. will come in the house for use but appliances, furniture and other heavy items would be stored in the garage. Other random boxed could be moved to the basement if needed. The whole point was to make the next move as easy on us as possible. This would have worked wonderfully if the condo had the two parking spaces out front that most condos do. Actually almost all of them in our complex have parking in front of their garages. Why is it not surprising that ours is the misfit? Our garage sets behind the condo, backing up to an alley. You have to come in the alley to get into the garage and you can then walk through the garage to get into the kitchen. No parking at all besides the garage. Unless of course you want to park something out in the back lot on the other side of the canal. So it looks like one vehicle will be relegated to that dirt parking lot (probably C's) and my car and the boat will co-habitate in the garage. Hopefully we can maneuver everything so at least the appliances and the heaviest pieces of furniture will still be able to stay in the garage. Hopefully.
#2 -- Ties in very closely to problem #1. We were told that off the back of the condo was a small deck and then a yard. Which we assumed would be acceptable for the dogs to play in and use for obvious reasons. I'm seeing a pattern here and it's obvious to me that we shouldn't have assumed a dang thing! The kitchen door does open onto a deck. However the deck encompasses the entire space between the condo and the garage. Leaving absolutely no space to turn the dogs loose into. This means that anytime the dogs need to go out, we must take them on their leashes to find a suitable grassy area. I know, for many people (apartment-dwellers) this is an everyday ritual for them. But unfortunately for us, we've been extremely spoiled. Our house had a large, fenced-in yard. I could just open the back door and turn them loose for as long as they wanted to be outside. Or as long as I needed them to be outside. Guess that will just be an adjustment.
Both problems are not insurmountable but are just adding a little extra stress at the moment. I guess, if anything, it just means that we'll be much more enthusiastic and driven in our search for a new place.
8 comments:
We're glad you got there safe and sound! At least you're through most of the hard part of the move now....hope you get settled in and get back to some normalcy. Call us if you need anything.
I am glad you got through the move, even though I know you aren't quite settled as yet. Take care of yourself, don't overdue! Now if that doesn't sound like a "Mom" line....
Tell C that I'm thinking about him, and so excited for him with his new job. (as I will be for you also when yours starts)
Love you both!
Sounds like you have your work cut out for you. No one ever said that change is easy. I am sure that everything is going to work out ok once these kinks work themself out. Hang in there sweetie!
I was thinking about your move, as we sit and wait for our stuff to arrive tomorrow, funny how life changes so quickly. Hope all is well with you and the little one...Pam
Ugh - coming from someone with 2 big dogs of my own, and being used to a large yard, I would go INSANE!! And say "this is exactly why I don't live in the city!!!" I feel for ya...
We're spoiled too. Our dog is used to just going out on her own too, I couldn't even imagine the adjustment for not having a fence.
Hope the rest of the move goes well & hope you find your home soon.
I've been reading your blog for a little while now. It sounds like you're in the new condos off of John Adams Pkwy behind Smith's. My parents live on the other side of the canal on Delbert Dr. Just a guess!
Your are Excellent. And so is your site! Keep up the good work. Bookmarked.
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