the plan for this move

I've said before that I love packing and unpacking. It's one of my sick pleasures. But before I get to have fun with the moving boxes and the packing tape it's time to get real.

We're definitely going to a smaller place, about 700 square feet smaller than where we are now. Though technically in the move we're gaining an extra guest living space, kitchenette, and shower in the guest house we're losing a garage, giant dining & living space, and a giant kitchen. The living space part is the most tricky because the living area in our new place, while decent sized, is oddly shaped with a lot of windows and not enough places to stick big TVs and couches. I know we'll have to mess with it quite a bit before we get the right layout but it's all do-able. Losing a giant dining space bums me out because I love having the table extended and seeing my loved ones around it with room to spare. Then again how often do I do that? Twice a year. We can deal.

Of course losing my giant kitchen is the part that sucks the most but I console myself with the knowledge that eventually I'll be able to gut and customize it exactly to my needs so every appliance, bottle of oil, and dish will have a home exactly where I need it. The kitchen upgrade is going to be my numero uno priority but I won't get going on the big gut job 'til at least 6 more months or a year so we can settle and I can see how I work in that space and then build around that.

With that in mind.

Goals:
Get rid of any home, clothing, or furniture we are positive we won't find a place for in the new place. Anything I haven't used in awhile has got to go because I don't want to drag it to the next house and waste time fitting it where I know it won't.

Plan:
Anything I pack is going to be shoved in the drum room. It'll be where all the upstairs boxes go like I did when we first moved from our apartment to our current house. Downstairs things will be waiting awhile on to keep our life normal while upstairs becomes chaos, then eventually shove everything to the corner of the living room.


The Tour:
I want to do a final tour of what the house looks like without Christmas presents and without moving boxes before we move. Then what it looks like empty.


The Big Move:
I think we're gonna hire movers for the furniture. This is a big move from a 2 story house to a city 40 miles away, this ain't an ask your friends for help situation. I think we might do a load of boxes in a U-Haul since those are easy to move but the furniture, we'll need help.

Feeling:
Excited. Nervous about liking my new life in Los Angeles proper. Sad to be leaving this big house and wonderful town I love so much. Also, relieved that my in-laws are gonna live here so Matt and I can come visit and have a room, a pool, and familia.

I want to enjoy this town as much as possible and enjoy the 5 Targets I have in my vicinity with ample parking for the last time. Walk the dogs in the park a lot. Eat at Puffy Taco, Gondola, Fenix 5-4, and Phlight about a billion more times. Actually walk to fresh&easy to buy food which I never do 'cause I'm lazy.