Corpus Christi -- Alese's selected highlights of our first week

Yes, we’re here.  And so is all our stuff.

You may recall reading that we donated, gave away, or sometimes even sold more than half our furniture, clothing, and possessions during four different stages between August and March, each time being stricter and more critical.  Even so, we’ve had to come up with innovative ideas to stow our possessions (from a four bedroom house with six walk-in closets and two pantries) into a small two bedroom house (with one 3’x6’ storage closet, two 1920s circa clothes closets, and no pantry). Bedroom #2 looks like a blue light special of Walmart plastic tubs stacked high.

We made a great deal of progress this past week putting things away and repairing/customizing this old house, built in 1926.  It fit right in with the months of remodeling practice we had this past fall.  As we put things away, we make decisions about which are priorities inside each box and what are their logical destinations, not necessarily working to empty a box just to empty it.  It’s a challenging memory game: where did I see the dustpan, scissors, hair brush, nightlights.

Meanwhile, we’ve been learning our way around town.  We’ve tried other than just the closest HEB and Walmart to see which are and aren’t the best and worth the drive, and how to get from here to there using main streets, highways, and back roads.  Adventurous exploration is such fun.

Wichu made it through the remodeling and house selling phases surprisingly well, and the 3-plus hour trip down here was a simple time of patient waiting.  His entry into his new reality was a little rough, spending his first night hidden behind the toilet, and would have been ready to come out, but had to take a break in Liz’s future apartment while the movers brought everything in.  He spent the next day in the closet and much of the week under the bed, but he’s past his worrisome bulimic stage now and is enjoying exploring every little thing and spending long periods in the windows watching the world outside.

I can retire my crown as Drought Queen because the drought here preceded me.  The difference in weather is a significant change from the previous week at our chilly, Live Oak-y Austin yard.  We’ve had extremely windy conditions (40mph) and quite warm temps (mid-80s today), and the slow-leafing deciduous trees in the yard allow the sun to fill the yard and house.  

I'm writing this on late Sunday afternoon. Ray went back to Austin mid-morning to his temporary quarters to resume his Austin job, and this routine will become familiar to all of us over time.  It's just me and Wichu in the house.  It's an interesting coincidence that I'm living within a mile or so of where I used to live back in the mid-70s, and yet it's difficult to find anything similar to that time.  

I start back to work tomorrow after two weeks away in mind and spirit, and I'd rather be emptying those last boxes, but after such a long, very hard effort to get to this spot, I'm pleased to feel complete relaxed contentment with exactly where I am this moment.  

Yes, we're now in Corpus Christi -- Ray's post

I assume Alese will eventually get to posting, but just wanted to make it official. Our movers arrived on time on Sunday morning, and the truck was fully loaded by about Noon. There were a few things that didn't fit. They hadn't been sure if we could fit everything into one truck, so brought a second one in case. When they heard Liz was moving they suggested putting the few remaining things (mostly outdoor furniture) in storage at her place, and then bringing it down with her move, which would save money on this move. (A smart play on their part. That assures them of more business moving Liz.) So, we saved $600 on a second truck -- which will probably go to support Liz's move. We drove down that afternoon each in our own vehicle. Alese's was full of plants. We arrived about 5. The movers arrived about 12:30 on Monday and were done unloading by about 3:30. The past few days have been taken up unpacking, arranging furniture and boxes we won't unpack, and getting TW to install internet and cable. So now we're on broadband and don't need to be concerned with the data costs on our iPads. We had expected to use both the garage and the spare bedroom for storage and didn't really know how much space that would all take. It turns out we could have brought the queen mattress for visitors -- which would have added to the need for a second truck. (We only brought one twin mattress -- no box spring -- because we thought the spare bedroom/storage room would be inundated with boxes.) We are officially in Corpus. We closed on the Austin house yesterday. That house is now officially and totally sold! I'm still working at HT until the end of this contract. That will be the end of May. I'll be staying at my sister- and brother-in-laws house in Austin during the week and driving home to Corpus Christi on weekends. I may switch cars with Alese on occasion to bring some of the things we'd like to have before Liz moves down... end of April. Photos and prose from Alese will follow, one of these days. Ray

Out the door

Two more days.

Move day is almost here.

A few more last-minute boxes to pack and a hope that the plan works to get all those damn plants (that seemed so important to take along) will actually fit into the van come Sunday. Would one think it overly compulsive to draw a floor plan for the van for doing what-ifs of what pots will fit where?

Last night, we took Ray's clothes and personal belongs to his new living quarters in Betty/Ernie's house (the sister/brother-in-law). Ray will have a lovely setup there with the certainty of plenty of interactions with the extended family. 

This posting is simply recognition that we're still here, barely,
almost gone,
and the blog needs a proper jumping off place
before we begin to tell talkes and share photos of the new lives.
See you then.