Ticking Down to the Departure

Jessie waits for her shake.

The past week has been a blur. Last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday was packing here and there, organizing things just to have them fall back into disarray. And Friday evening, Jessie came up from Irvine to overnight and help me out with packing the office on Saturday. When she arrived, I discovered that she had just gotten fired from her job … and couldn't feel better about it. In fact, it was what she'd wanted for the last few months. Today she texted that she has a new writing gig (something she's been pining for every since she returned stateside from her teaching job in Myanmar).

Andy's vintage
milkshake machine.

Saturday morning we headed out to Andy's for a last breakfast there. Jessie ordered a milkshake with her breakfast, since she loves their shakes. I thought it was kind of weird, but helped her finish it. After, we picked up some boxes from the Box Store and dropped off the last of the donations at Out of the Closet, then headed back home to get on with packing the office.

I mug for Jessie.

I was really glad that she was with me when going through the office, since there were a lot of books and other such heavy things that I was on the fence about keeping and shipping, and they ended up getting tossed because I never used or read them. It was also a chance to glean important papers from the piles that had accumulated over the last month.

I've taken the low-stress approach to packing, so we spent as much time visiting and shooting the breeze as we did packing. After all, it was more important to me to visit with a great friend for the last time for a while. I keep telling everyone that I will probably be out to visit sometime during the first winter, since I expect that's when I'll be most nostalgic for California winters.

Jessie left about 4:30 in the afternoon, and I set about more packing. Sunday was a lazy day for me, and although I got a couple boxes packed, it was not a marathon by any means.

Monday was taken up almost exclusively by doing my taxes. I know, I know, I should have done them a month ago (Steve and I usually had them done by the end of February), but I avoided them. So, for the first time in my life, I left everything until the last minute. When they were done, I patted myself on the back and called my sister Kittie (who is a tax specialist) to share the experience.

Tuesday, I took the car in for servicing and a general check up: it passed with flying colors, so hopefully no breakdowns or blowups on the road to Winona. I got some good walking in, since I had to take the bus to and from Mitch's Auto (best auto mechanic in Pasadena!). In between, I was home, sorting out important papers for myself and the buyers. I just hope nothing imminently necessary to my life got packed in the office, since I won't be seeing it for at least three months.

Today started with the post office, dropping off the money-owed check for the federal return, and sending in my state return via mail, as there was some snafu that kept Turbotax from e-filing.The rest of the day has been more packing. I've finally run out of boxes and had to dip into the 10 boxes we bought on Saturday. Luckily, there's still plenty of packing tape, bubble wrap and newsprint to accommodate the final items in the kitchen, office and bedroom. Also this afternoon, I have been getting everything in a row: forwarding address for the business, canceling home and earthquake insurance policies, and paying the auto insurance. I still have to request a final billing for the gas and electricity (water and trash are included in the HOA fees here) and let Social Security know of the move.

The biggest unknown left is what clothes get packed and what items go with me. It will probably be midsummer before I move into a new place and have access to everything in storage, so I'm pretty much taking everything that fits, since I wear it all. Extra pairs of shoes and specialty items will probably end up being stored, while everyday wear I'll wear…well…every day.

Riding over the 210 freeway on the bus, the traffic was something I seemed to have really seen for the first time. It was cluttered and ugly, all crawling cars and fumes. I will be happy to leave that. Later in the evening, police sirens howling down the street and helicopters circling overhead. I would not miss that, either.

My life in Californian is pretty much over. My design career is in semiretirement. I have no idea what the next few months holds in store for me, but I'm really looking forward to it. And, until Friday morning, I am going to be in a mild panic over getting everything done. And when Friday has come and gone, it's going to be an interesting Saturday morning. I'm hoping one of the new buyers will be able to let me out of the garage and the gate.

On the road I will be stopping in Cedar City, Utah; Glenwood Springs, Colorado; and Kerney, Nebraska, arriving at Amanda's place next Tuesday evening. I've never driven this distance by myself before, but I think the biggest obstacle will be sheer boredom, driving for hours and hours, only to stop and collapse for the night, regroup in the morning and continue on.

If I can get wifi connections on the road, I may be posting here during the trip. If not, I will have a nice long entry to make once I get to Winona.

Wish me luck!