We have had an incredibly busy weekend. In addition to Josie's party we also were able to get all of our stuff boxed up and ready for shipment. When we decided to move we wondered how we would possibly be able to pare down our belongings and only take what we "needed". It has been an incredibly powerful, satisfying and exhausting process to say the least. I started months ago with what I called "skimming the top" I kept going through the house and just taking all of the low hanging fruit. It was easy to get rid of so much every week by scheduling the donation truck. I would just start a pile on the front porch and by collection day I'd have quite a load. Every time they took it away it felt like I had lost 10 pounds. Every time I'd go through the house it became more and more difficult to decide, if it should be donated, stored in the basement or brought with us to Germany.
In the end we were able to box up 13 boxes with our essentials. More than half of these boxes are filled with Marty's computer equipment, video editing equipment, radio equipment, etc. Also Benjamin and Marty decided that the xBox was "essential" so the whole system was packed up as well, much to Benjamin's EXTREME pleasure.
We each get one checked bag of 50lb and a carry on. One of the 50lb checked bag has a 20+lb bag of Marty's with his equipment he will need to do his radio show. And that is it. It actually feels like we are taking too much. It will feel really good (I'm hoping) to live a lot lighter than we have been.
The boxes are scheduled to be picked up at our house on Wednesday morning around 9AM for an air freight shipment to a warehouse near the Berlin airport. At first we talked about shipping by boat because it was much cheaper but then realized that it would take 6-8 weeks coming AND going and that Marty could not be without his work equipment for nearly 4 months (up to 2 going and 2 coming home) so we decided to ship by air . Marty and I are a bit skeptical whether this Wednesday morning pick up will actually happen or not. The cost of shipping is actually very reasonable. Another one of those "signs" that this was the right time to do this. However, we have been working with this guy Howard, who although extremely nice, we are wondering if he is trying to scam us. Probably not and we aren't the skeptical type by nature and it probably is just that this is the first BIG step in our move becoming a reality so we are nervous. Stay tuned to find out if the boxes were actually picked up or not....
At the end of our final weekend in Seattle we are feeling emotionally, physically and mentally exhausted. We know (or we hope) it will all be worth it in the end and keep reminding ourselves that if this were easier then everyone would do it. But right now we are beat!!
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