Life in the Slow Lane

Today with the sunset, I see a flock of geese on their migration south. Say "hello" to Southern California for me when you get there, I think. I can't help but think of the geese that regularly flew over our house as they made the arduous migration from the golf course just north of us to the shores of the yacht club just south of us like retirees who have no fear of their pension running low. I idly wonder whether these Wisconsin geese will ever return to these northern climes or if, like the geese I knew, they will take up residence on the carefully greened lawn of the golf course. I wouldn't blame them. Learning to live rent free in Southern California is no small magic. The last month has been gorgeous winter weather by Southern California's standards. Aside from the torrential rain and the thunder storms so close we can hear the lightening sizzle as it strikes, it's been pretty much the same. The leaves started changing color the first week of Septe...

On the eve of my birthday, I've been informed that if this MBA adventure doesn't work out for our family, I could always get a job as a professional packer. I'd like to think this is a compliment, but I'm not sure. One thing is for sure, though, we've astounded people all along our travels. From the very first forklift driver who loaded our container on the back of his flatbed all the while trying to keep his forklift from toppling, to the moving company who helped us unload that same container today, we've gotten a nod or two of respect for how well we've packed. Our Relocube safely stowed, no forklifts were seriously injured in the process. And it isn't just with the Relocube. There is that small detail of our 87 pound suitcase that we (and by that I mean SOS) lugged in and out of cars, up and down stairs, on and off trains all before realizing that it weighed in as it did. That's one advantage of traveling without checking luggage. Only o...

When SOS and I were first married, we lived in what we called our Honeymoon House. The Honeymoon House backed onto a golf course. It had four bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, and a gorgeous view of a mountain we secretly claimed for ourselves. The view from the front porch of our Honeymoon House. The dark shadow on the right stretching toward the moon is our mountain. Of course we owned no furniture when we moved in. We each came from renting fully furnished rooms and so moved in with a borrowed mini-fridge, a borrowed air mattress, and all of our still-wrapped wedding gifts... and there were lots of those. So many in fact, that we gave them the extra bedrooms. We were in that uncertain waiting game called "short sale" both of the condo we came to know as home and of the Honeymoon House. The owner of the Honeymoon House wasn't thrilled with the idea of an empty house for however many months the bureaucracy shuffled papers. As long as we didn't mind realt...

Tonight is our last night in the place we've called home for six years. In honor of the occasion, here are six thoughts on selling our condo and moving on: 1) When we first talked about selling our tiny castle, I daydreamed about papering the house with post-it notes urging kind thoughts from the seller regarding the various quirks of a dearly beloved space. Like a note to the teacher of a child being sent off for a first day of kindergarten, I wanted to make sure no one misunderstood the charming idiosyncrasies to be annoying vices. As escrow drags on, I've come to suspect that no one could love this place as much as we have. With the help of the kids, the house has been worn until it has become real. The buyer will think it needs new paint and carpet, we know better. Maybe tonight while we sleep the magic nursery fairy will come and turn our tiny house into a real castle. If only all our boxes packed themselves. Oh, wait. They all do self-pack. 2) A number of comp...

Our realtor tells us we should make room in our house so interested buyers can have the room to imagine their lives in this space rather than just ours. Gentle Readers, potential buyers will just have to have excellent imaginations. Oh, to be sure, we are packing as much as we can. We rented a storage unit about the size of our  living room, and we keep adding to it car load by car load.  But still, we're a little tight on space and as much as we will love the person who decides to pay our price, we don't have any room to accommodate their imagination in our square footage. Well, with one exception... we have decided to move out the pet snake. A reptile such as this could potentially swallow whole many a potential buyer's imagination. Meanwhile, we've been working on some phrasing to use in the property listing. Some of my favorites include: 1) A bathroom as big as a kitchen! 2) The closets, cupboards, and pantry are all ready to showcase your unique s...

It's been one of those months. Maybe you've had one. Or it had you. Briefly, in April we Found out SOS was accepted to grad school and they wanted to see him in person two weeks later. Planned and executed a last minute trip for each of us (two different destinations), one requiring the acquisition of new formal wear. Moved storage facilities. Owed taxes for the first time ever. Broke into a house (with owner's permission). Survived a round of flu... and a nasty cold. Celebrated 6 years of marriage (hugging the toilet, no alcohol involved). Celebrated a birthday (hugging the toilet, no alcohol involved). Enjoyed visits from both sets of parents. Acknowledged our car was officially too far gone when it failed to change gears in traffic. Researched and purchased a new car. Learned that a case that has haunted us for nearly three years was settled. Discovered that the girl we were expecting is actually a boy. Listed our house for sale. Were offered a TA pos...

Gentle Readers, it appears I will have to learn how to Do Winter. I've never had to, up till now. For nine years, I lived in the tropics... things get cold when temperatures drop to 60 degrees. For thirteen years, I've lived in Southern California. I own eight pairs of flip-flops... and two pairs of shoes that have both a closed-toe and an enclosed heel. Flip-Flops. A good choice for every season. Right? The other years? Those are the coldest I've ever known. It snowed once when I was in high school. We got about an inch of snow during the night and it melted almost completely by 10 am. The important part of that day, though, was that school was cancelled on account of it. But aside from the rare coincidence of cold and humidity arriving on the same day, my years in Central California were marked by a long-standing inability to believe that there existed temperatures colder than 60 degrees. I remember standing on the blacktop during the gray winter days of second g...