Exodus

We picked up the keys to our new place this week and our contract officially starts today. We took the first load of stuff over last night, so our exodus has officially commenced. We'll be packing stuff up and driving it over all week long, and then we'll get a U-Haul for all the big stuff next Saturday.

We'll put some pictures of the new place soon, but the bottom line is that it's bigger. The upstairs is about the same size as our current place, but it has a sizable half-basement. And a yard. Did I mention there's a yard? that's one of the best parts. It needs some work, but at least it's not on a busy street corner like our current place.

We've been talking the new house up with my daughter. We wanted her to be excited about it so the transition would be a positive experience. Apparently we needn't have worried. She practically bounced out of the car when we arrived, and loved exploring the house. We told her that it was our new house, and she in turn declared that it was her house. That's probably more accurate -- we barely maintain a toehold of ownership in our bedroom, but the rest of the house is definitely her territory.

The new place has some quirks, just like every house. The downstairs has all wood paneling, which is a very sturdy wall material, but also butt-ugly. We'll live with it, though, since it's just a rental. There's also a wet bar in the basement. You know, for our . . . um . . . 1960's-themed cocktail parties. That we hold in our basement. With wood paneling. Yeah.

Quirks aside, the new place seems like it will work out well. My daughter loved all the space. She ran around in circles in the basement, which is something you really can't do at our current place.

So now we will spend the next week or so moving, and then we'll clean up the old place and turn it over. I'm hoping our gradual approach to moving will be easier, but maybe we're just stretching out the agony. We'll see. At any rate, we'll be done in two weeks, and the exodus has already begun.