Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Weight 119.4 (unchanged even though I ate 2 pieces of pizza last night - I felt overly full).

We made it here to DH's home. I think Justice is pleased because it is familiar here and the other house was feeling entirely too empty. Lots to unpack today but I followed my moving rules yesterday: 1) get the bed made so you can go to bed at night; 2) find the toiletries so you can brush your teeth; 3) have the coffee makers ready with the coffee fixings for the morning. Those are the critical basics on day one, all the rest is gravy.

The furniture looks good in the sunroom. Less crowded as there was an extra loveseat not being used which we replaced with a small chair. And the extra large end tables and coffee table have been replaced with smaller tables. DH's DD seems to like to pack in the largest furniture that will fit, but I prefer having it smaller yet comfortable so the room is more navigable and feels more open. I was a little concerned about how my bedroom set would fit as there was no bed frame previously but it looks really good and lightens up the room substantially as the furniture is very pale, almost cream yellow cottage furniture and replaced dark brown laminate furniture that was probably from the 1970's.

Thank goodness for movers! A lot of moving and a lot of junk going out in the truck yesterday. I had bought a substantial metal wardrobe for the basement to keep my extra clothing and shoes in (this house has tiny 1970 era closets). The movers barely got it down the stairs - DH and I would never in a million years managed it. Nice cabinet though! I have it set up already so I can unload my clothing from the wardrobe boxes. Lots of unpacking to do today. I will follow my subsequent day rules: 1) get the kitchen functional (which in this case means emptying the boxes so we aren't tripping over them); 2) make sure clothing needed over the next few days is accessible; 3) move on to all other boxes to make all rooms functional, 4) rearrange furniture as needed. One slight difficulty is that this family seems to be packrats with stuff and not just in closets and the basement. There is bedding for 2 more households heaped upstairs even though all the beds are made. There are puzzles and games in huge piles even though the grandchildren have outgrown most of them. The kitchen has lots of battered pots, dishes, and coffee cups which need to be replaced (some of my stuff will take its place but I need DH to choose what to remove). Back to living in clutter to some extent. At least I have control of 2 rooms and of the entire Florida house.

Time to take a beach walk with Justice before unpacking. Have a whirlwind Wednesday!

Liz, I'm saving your post above to guide the continuing moving/unpacking events I'm about to experience over the next three months.

Our new home closes in 10 days. It's a cash sale, so we are moving funds around for ease of wiring the closing amount to the title company. It's "interesting" that banks and investment brokers want to hold onto your money for longer than it seems should be legal for them to do so. What a shock, eh? For example, DF's investment company's policy permits him to put $250K/day into his investment account, but their standard policy is to permit clients to move only $100K/day out of one's account. Happily, DF obviated that silliness with a phone call to a real human being at the company, but I imagine some folks would just go, "Oh, okay." [eye roll emoji]

The weather here is beautiful--sunny with early morning lows in the 50s and 40s for the foreseeable future. I hope we have a gorgeous fall this year for my last autumn in the home I've lived in for longer (21 years) than anywhere else in my life.

Memories! Transitions! Change! Loss! Hope! Love! Peace! I'm finding strength in the Buddhist approach to this process. Nothing lasts forever. You can't keep everything. All that's worth saving is love and kindness. Amen.

Sounds like are going to feel like me: Sad to be leaving a home you loved but ultimately glad not to have to caretake it in the future.

All that's worth saving is love and kindness. Thank you for that. My financial life has always been lean, but I have what I need. 90% of the time I am content with that, but sometimes I long for more. But love and kindness, I have in abundance. I am blessed.

159.4, right in the middle of where I've been landing the last week. Must be my plateau time in the stair step pattern I take in losing.

Worked 2 1/2 hours in the church garden and will most likely be it for me until next year. Beds are being closed out as crops stop producing. I pulled the last of the green beans last week and finished out beet and carrots this week. I think we only have peppers, tomatoes, summer squash and zucchini and basil left and the plan is to pull all of that next week when I'll be vacationing in Door County.

Tonight I have couple's Bible study sans DH since he is working and tomorrow I lead the woman's study. Have left over corned beef from last week so it will be Reuben's for dinner.

Liz, I wish I had half of your gumption! You really are impressive. Since we've decided to keep our current home, we are considering what improvements we might like to make. We had already upgraded the washer, dryer and refrigerator so now I've ordered a new range (induction stove top with convection oven that will also air fry). They have come down in price nicely since we last looked at them. I had had an induction stovetop before and missed it! Next on the list is to replace carpet with luxury vinyl flooring. DH wants to keep carpet in the bedrooms but I don't. Bathrooms and entryway are tile which we would keep and kitchen is wood laminate that is showing some wear and I would replace with the luxury vinyl flooring . Basement has carpet in the family room and bedroom and on stairs leading there, really cheap wood laminate in the bar/eating area and tile in the downstairs bathroom. Not sure if we will tackle that or not.

I have lost the energy to tackle the things you are going to work on in your home. That's one of the reasons I am leaving mine.

182.8 today, shot day. So that's 1.6 for the week. I lost 1.6 the entire month of August!

After a quiet day of no HOA drama yesterday for me, it started at 8AM today. It's now 12:27 and that's all I've gotten done. Internet tower complaints, front gate complaints, "my landscaping hasn't been approved yet" complaints, balloons landing in front of someone's house this morning complaints (email titled "Security breach". Give me a break)... 2 years and 8 months left. That's my mantra. Sweet Kirby is asleep under my desk. Must feel safe like a den.

Speaking of Kirby, he went to daycare for 6 hours yesterday in Flagstaff. I indeed did not have enough to do all day up there, so I drove back and forth twice (6 hours in the car). That's nuts. But I think he had fun and made some friends. He mostly played with a little black Heinz57 girl named Squint. The gal had to carry Squint into the reception area to get Kirby to follow her! He came out panting and covered in dog slobber and has been sleeping pretty much ever since. A worthwhile trip, I just wi**** was closer!

The view from my office is so pretty. I'm watching hundreds of bees in the Russian sage with Doe Mountain behind:

Anyway, back to the HOA grind. Take care!

Gorgeous! I have to get back to Sedona!

Gorgeous!