We are in North Carolina

We had the packers arrive on Friday August 27th. We purged and packed personal items but when they told us it was only $3000 more to pack the entire house we jumped on it. They arrived at 7:30am. They finished at 6:48pm. Wow they worked like crazy. At 4pm 3 men arrived to help the two women there to finish up. 

The two women were amazing. However there was one thing. I made a pile of things I did not wish for them to pack. They packed it. They left all the things they can't take like light bulbs and everything that was ever opened. So we packed all that stuff while they were packing. I tried to go behind them and clean out cabinets etc so I wasn't doing everything later. We bought them lunch and the one cried. She said no one had ever done that for them. Jeez. It was just pizza and wings, salad and pop. When they left the one that cried asked if she could hug me. We all wore masks all day and she said she had been vaccinated so I hugged her. She thanked me again and I thanked her 100 times. What they did in a day was amazing!

We were to have the the walk -through on Monday the 30th before closing. But around 6pm I get a call from my realtor that they want to come tonight. To say I wasn't happy is an understatement. I explained that there was furniture in the hall, boxes everywhere. What are they going to see. This is very inconvenient. We planned everything around the days they chose, packers, movers, hotel. Matt, our realtor, talked me off the ledge and said so what, let them in and it's over with. Okay so we did. They arrived at 7:10p. The couple were Asian. Her English was good but she spoke so softly it was difficult. I got the impressive as did Rick that she loved the decorating more than the house. She kept telling us our home was so beautiful when they were last here. Yes, you chose to come now you crazy nut job, while it's a hot mess. She told me that the colors and decor were beautiful. I had custom made woven blinds on the windows with draperies over them. I took the drapes but left the blinds. What are the chances that our windows will be the same size? She was thrilled and kept bowing and thanking me.  They measured walls for beds and sofas. They asked us questions and asked to see if the fridge was repaired. It was indeed $625 new door! (it couldn't have broken AFTER we sold?) Just leave, I wanted to scream at them, we're tired! We headed to the hotel.

Then Saturday August 28th the movers arrived at 7:50am. They removed all our furniture and pictures, etc onto 2 trucks. These young men went up and down the stairs so quickly and with big ass dressers and bookcases on their backs. Rick looked at me at one point and said, "Thank God for youth!"  I found that funny.

I needed to "come down". I have never had anxiety but these last few months have been high anxiety and I don't like this one bit. But anyhoo - I said let's just not do anymore today. I just can't Rick. He said, Okay by me. So we headed back to the hotel in our development. We walked Izzy and tried to have our shoulders move off our ears.

Sunday morning, August 29th we had to be at the house by 8am for the 911Junk guys to pick up all the office furniture that I threw out. Yes I threw out furniture. It was a hot mess. 21 yrs old and my company bought it for me. Saunders desk and cabinet. Both held together with duct tape. And a credenza Rick made for me in a pinch. So after a fairly good nights sleep we headed over to our home for the last time. 

We cleaned the place from head to toe. We took down curtain rods and Rick filled in the holes and touched up the paint. We started on the 3rd floor and worked our way down. Everything clean and sparkling. I washed the floor as I went out the door. 

The neighbors and dog folks were all stopping by. The Mayor of Mink Meadows (street we lived on) is going to be missed we were told over and over again. Rick and Izzy sit on that wall out front of our home since she has gotten older. Everyone stops to chat, rub Izzy and sometimes just to rub Izzy and keep walking. One man was jogging and saw Rick and I. He looked like a hippie from the 70s. He stopped in front of our home and said, "Man are we all going to miss you two!" And then he was off - Rick turned to me and said do you know him? No, but If his dog was with him maybe. 

The  neighbors brought Izzy treats. 2 cried. All the dog people on Flintonbridge, a street behind us, all came to our home with a gift basket for Izzy and a bottle of wine for the adults. They all brought their dogs so it was a dogapoolza at our home one last time.

 

I am going to miss our community, the location, the ability to have everything without leaving my development, our dog people, everything but the HOA and the traffic. I loved our home and I loved making it with Rick. So since we bought a home off the internet I am certain I will be making changes once again. Only our last house was brand new for me. This house is an estate sale. It has some grandma vibes that I must erase.

Monday August 30th we headed from our hotel to the closing company. We signed our papers. Because this was now 4pm we decided to not do the drive to Raleigh until morning. Giving us a chance to chill before the next round.

Living in a tiny Home2Suites is an adventure unto itself. 3 of us in a small room. Being tired to the bone one night we got the giggles that made no sense. Even the dog tilted her head and stared at us. Also having only 1 bathroom is a mighty big adventure. "Are you done yet?" 

Rick and I doing the pee pee dance. "Hurry up in there I gotta go. 

That's what was said more than anything in that room. How do people do this with one bathroom and one person w/diverticulitis issues? Fun fun fun!

We left Tuesday morning by 10am. Izzy had gone swimming earlier so we knew after swimming and going to the bathroom she was ready for the drive. Rick was driving his small truck and I was following him. We agreed that since we were both going to wear our headsets to just call. Texting and driving is a no-no. This way I can just say in my headset to please dial Rick's cell. No hands needed. I needed to tell Rick something about my gas level in the car. We had agreed to stop and get gas but not sure how far he was planning. I did not have as much gas as he did.  I tried to call him but it was ringing busy. I flashed my lights but he wasn't stopping. Finally, I just pulled over and I knew he'd do the same. It worked. I got out and asked him about his phone. He tried it. He couldn't call out or receive calls. We sat on the side of the road and called Verizon on my cell. Apparently, LG had an upgrade that was not working with google/android. He walked Rick through the steps and it was fixed and on our way. But that was not without waiting on hold for 20 minutes on the side of the road. 

He pulled over to get gas and I did as well. He planned where we'd do this because an hour south of us the gas is a lot cheaper. So Rick puts in his debit card and it was rejected. He comes to my car and tells me this. I said I just used my debit card. I immediately freak out because we've had fraud before and I sure as hell don't need all that money disappearing from our home sale. No, my card works fine. I have to call PNC. I was on hold for 8 minutes when they said I could press one and they would call me back.

I pressed 1 and figured I could do this while driving since I am wearing a headset. They called me back 30 some minutes later. 

It's only Rick's card and it was what we used to pay the movers. We had to get "permission" for lack of a better word, to use it for that high of an amount. So I was given an exception for this company and this amount. But apparently, the person we spoke to allowed the 15K to go through but froze the account. So we had to get that all worked out while driving 70mph.

We finally got here and made several trips from car to our "room"  It's like a very small apartment. Big bedroom and not a single dresser or drawer. I am already tired after 5-6 days of living out of a suitcase. I was so hoping to put everything away for the next 20 days. Oh well, soldier on.

So we are in our "apartment style hotel" Everyone is nice and friendly here.

We have a courtyard that Izzy and Rick have already enjoyed.  I'll show you pix when I can. I'm having issues downloading them to Rick's laptop. 

So here is what I know.

I get to see my new house tomorrow for the first time which isn't facetime. Inspector and realtor are meeting us there.

Rick can't pack, can't handle being unorganized and it shocked him.

I found that funny because I knew that. How doesn't he?

No couple should live with only 1 bathroom if it can be avoided.

I'm tired of living out of a suitcase and want to unpack.

We won't be done unpacking until Xmas.

Hopefully tomorrow I will have photos for you.

I'm off to explore my new home city.