(Early fall flowers.)
Every summer once the real Texas heat sets in, Ryan starts to talk about visiting a milder climate. In the past, he’s suggested Maine and Seattle, and I’ve always balked and changed the subject. But this year, he mentioned the idea of moving (moving!) to the Portland, Oregon area, and for some weird reason, I was intrigued. The timing seems right for us now: we’ve been in our current home for almost ten years; the boys are old enough to be somewhat independent, but young enough to still adapt well to change; Ryan works from home, which gives him amazing flexibility; and I’ve never really experienced an adventure quite like this.
So, we have a few basic plans in place, and if things work out, we’re seriously considering a big, cross-country move next summer, once the boys are out of school. Ryan contacted a realtor in the Portland area and is meeting with him next month on the end of a work trip to the region. We’ve been looking at houses, which is so much fun and so stressful, too. We’ll have to sell our house before we go, and that’s new territory, as well. Oh, and there’s also the fact that I’ve never actually been to Oregon, so we are planning a quick trip before the end of the year.
I’ve never lived anywhere besides south or central Texas, so this will be a huge experience for me. While I’ve moved a few times, they were short moves, with my things loaded into the back of my dad’s car or Ryan’s old truck. I’ve traveled a little, both in the United States and to Europe, but I’ve always come back to Texas. It’s my home. But I’ve experienced Texas for 37 years, so I think it’s time to try something new, if only for a little while.
Ryan grew up in a military family, so he is used to moving from place to place. While we’re not planning a move every four years, we do think it might be an amazing opportunity for our boys to see a different part of the country and to experience life in a different state. Moving to Portland has become pretty cliché in Austin, and a lot of people are migrating back and forth between the two cities right now. But it might be nice to be somewhere entirely different that is also a little bit familiar, too.
We’ve told our families and friends, and while they are sad, they’re also excited. Portland summers are mild compared to Austin, and there will soon be a direct flight between the two cities that’s about four hours long. That’s how long it takes us to drive to Galveston, if we stop for lunch on the way. Not too shabby!
I’m nervous and excited about this new adventure, and I know there will be a lot of stress and heartache along the way, too. We’re planning things carefully, mostly to help the boys acclimate to a huge life change, since they’ve lived in our current house their entire lives. This will be a big change for everyone, and I’ll try to share little updates as things progress.
In the meantime, I’d love to hear any moving tips you can offer, since it’s all new to me.
(Our formal living room has become the Lego room.)
The Ethical Writers Coalition is hosting a Second Hand Challenge during the month of September, and my goal is to find creative ways to clear my house of the things I no longer need. Craigslist is always a great option to buy and sell vintage items, and I’ve had great luck doing both.
I love vintage furniture and many of the pieces in my house once belonged to my grandmother. I wrote about my vintage living room set a few years ago, and in the past few months, I’ve thought a lot about finding new homes for the furniture to make more room for the boys to play. So, the last week of August, I took some pictures and placed an ad on Craigslist, offering the pieces as a set or individually. I was lucky enough to find a buyer for the whole set, someone who also happens to love vintage furniture, too. And when she arrived, I realized that we had even gone to high school together! It was just meant to be, I guess; and while I felt a bit sad watching that floral couch drive off in someone else’s truck, I know that it was the right decision.
As much as I loved that furniture, we weren’t using it and it was just taking up space that my boys really needed to play. Plus, the buyer was able to furnish her apartment with everything, and she’ll get lots of use from it every day. That thought thrilled me, and I love knowing that my beloved furniture went to someone else who will also love it.
I think it’s important for our home to function well for the way we live now, so we bought a second LACK coffee table from IKEA (we already had one), and the boys now have plenty of space to build and store their Lego creations. I still have plenty of my grandmother’s belongings, plus lots of memories, which are priceless.
(It rained this week for the first time in months.)
This week was short but busy, and I’m really looking forward to the weekend. I seem to forget how busy the school year is, and I’ve been burning the candle at both ends lately. I’m hoping to get back on track next week and pace myself a bit better. In the meantime, here are a few things that caught my eye this week.
Scandinavian style on a houseboat.
It feels good to get rid of stuff.
Photos of Queen Elizabeth II’s life. (She makes Prince Harry blush in one shot and it’s adorable.)
Boudoir photo sessions for Orthodox Jewish women.
And two Russian boys planned an elaborate kindergarten escape.
Have a great weekend!
