Packing...

You'll have to forgive me for taking so long to tell you about the pack out.  The last several weeks have been busy, to say the least and I'm just now sitting down to digest the recent events.  Actually, we're on the road from Pensacola to Jacksonville--the dullest, most boring road trip known to man--and I'm taking a break from looking at the trees to share our experiences with you.  It's really quite a sacrifice on my part...

Day 1  (May 25)
On Day 1 our moving guys--Stanley, Travis, & Mark--showed up around 11:00am to pack up our express shipment--all the things we wanted to have on Okinawa as soon as possible.  Most of the stuff in there was kitchen stuff, but we also threw in our computer and scooters and boogie boards.  When they finished, they said that shipment was way underweight and asked if I wanted them to pack up the rest of the kitchen.   Woohoo!  I felt it was a good omen--I never feel settled until our kitchen is unpacked and now I'll be able to get that finished before the regular shipment arrives.

During this time, the boys were busy upstairs preparing their Legos to go in the express shipment.  If you've ever visited our house (or if you've ever had a conversation with Michael longer than 2 minutes) you know that these boys have about a zillion Legos in their room.  And they're all carefully crafted into intricate creations that fall apart easily when touched, breathed on, or looked at the wrong way.  So you can imagine the challenge posed in having to move these structures halfway across the world.  We decided that the best plan would be to place each aircraft, vehicle, and command center into large Ziploc bags then carefully pack them in a box.  I've warned them that more than likely the Lego sets will fall apart in transit, but at least each set will be in its own bag so all the pieces won't get mixed up.  I'm a little worried that Michael will have a not-so-minor breakdown when he actually sees his precious Lego sets broken into a zillion pieces, but I'm hoping he'll eventually look on the bright side..at least he won't be bored the for the first six months because he'll be spending all his time fixing his Legos!

Anyway, the boys packed their Legos in about an hour, then spent the rest of the time milling around the house and being told to stay out of the way of the packers.  It took them about 3 hours to pack up the express shipment, then it was loaded up in a large wooded crate (about the size of one of those POD storage things.)  The crate was nailed shut and labeled and sent on its way.  After the packers had been gone for about 20 minutes, it dawned on Michael that THE LEGOS WERE STILL IN HIS ROOM!  Then, he dangerously made the following comment:  "Mom, how come you didn't remember to tell them to pack the Legos?"  Because, you know....there aren't any other things going on and the Legos should be the first thing on my mind at all times.  How silly of me!  We had a little chat about responsibility and all the things going on right now, and we assured him that the Legos are still going to get to Okinawa.  Afterward, I went to check on his packing technique.  Between you and me, those Legos would have NEVER arrived in any recognizable form!

Day 2  (May 26)
The Big Day had finally arrived!  This was our final chance to decide what things would go to Okinawa and what would stay.  When Stanley and the guys arrived, I took him around the house and optimistically showed him all the stuff we wanted to join us in Okinawa.  Of course, there were the things in Okinawa Square,  but there were other smaller piles of items throughout the house, like stuff in the boys' room and the playroom that never made is to Okinawa Square because I never got around to dragging them downstairs.  After the "tour," I tentatively asked Stanley, "Well, what do you think?  Are we over our weight allowance?  He shook his head and gave me a sympathetic look.  "I don't know, Ma'am...that's a lot of stuff."  Not to be dissuaded, I stubbornly  boldly told him, "Well, this is what has to go.  If we're over-weight, too bad."  

So they started packing.  And packing.  I kept finding things throughout the house that we couldn't live without for three years, and I'd secretly inconspicuously place them in Okinawa Square.  Whenever Stanley would catch me, I'd guiltily make up some pitiful excuse:  "Come on....this Flip Flop shaped fly swatter with the South Carolina logo doesn't weigh a thing...it won't make much difference!"  or "This is Andrew's favorite book...do you really expect him not to READ for 3 years?"  It was pathetic.  They packed for about 6 hours with a break for lunch from KFC provided by Yours Truly.  As they're loading up the last crate in the big truck, I asked Stanley one more time, "What do you think?  Are we way over?"  And he answered, "Oh, don't worry about it.  We like you guys....you were real good to us.  We got lunch and drinks--do you know some people don't ever offer us water?  You guys were real nice."  I'm thinking, "Yes, we're wonderful people....but are we going to have to pay to ship all this?"  But he went on, "I'll tell you what--I'm going to help you out.  If we get to the scales and your stuff is over weight, I'll make it so that it all comes out even."  He must have seen my puzzled look because he gave me a little wink and said, "Don't worry...I have my ways."  I'm not quite sure what that means, but I hope that doesn't mean he's going to help himself to some of our prized possessions as a way of lowering the weight of our shipment.  Other than that, I don't really care what he does to "make it all come out even."  Normally I would be feeling guilty or nervous about breaking the rules, but I've recently discovered that both Air Force and Army families get to take all their things to Okinawa...none of this 25% of the weight allowance stuff.  So I'm not exactly feeling all warm and fuzzy about the Marine Corps and their thrifty ways.  If they're telling us to move halfway around the world, the least they can do is let us take our most prized possessions is, right?

Day 3  (May 27)
By this point, all the major decisions had been made and what was going to Okinawa had already left.  The next round of packers came to pack all the things that were going into storage--primarily furniture.  By the time they left the only things left unpacked were the things we'll be taking with us on the plane (or leaving behind in Jacksonville at the Feeks/Linares Storage Facilities.)

I also took the little kids (Mary & Andrew) for their 2nd round of flu shots and I went in for a required pre-Okinawa pregnancy test.  Naturally, there was confusion at the Naval Hospital and when the person in the lab didn't know how to order my test (because I wasn't under a doctor's order) I jokingly said, "I can't be the first person going to Okinawa that you've dealt with, right?"  and she said, "Well, actually, you are!"  Maybe she was the new girl, who knows, but it was a just so typical and the only surprise should have been that I wasn't expecting it already.  We eventually got it all worked out, I did my thing, and we were on our way.  And, since I know you're all wondering--no, I'm not pregnant! 
 

Day 4  (May 28)
This is when the pack out process got really easy for me because we decided that I would take the kids to Jacksonville for a few days and Bill would stay behind to do some painting and repairs at the house.  But, not before one last breakfast at IHOP. 

Afterward, I said good bye to the furniture and prayed they wouldn’t be mold-ridden when I saw them again,  Then the kids and I headed down to Jacksonville.  After 3 hours in the car with 4 children, I started wondering who got the better deal. 

Days 5-7  (May 29-31)
I got to take a break from thinking about the move as I relaxed and spent a few days with my family in Jacksonville.  Bill spent those days painting the kids’ rooms upstairs and over-seeing the loading of the moving truck.

Day 8 (June 1)
I returned to Beaufort on Wednesday with the girls for the most dreaded part of any move—the cleaning.  But before we started that, I had a Pack Out party with some girlfriends.  There were so many things I couldn’t possibly take to Okinawa with me and that couldn’t be stored (like food and cleaners, etc…)  My friends came over with their kids we enjoyed a final pizza dinner in our furniture-less house, then they rummaged through my pantry and refrigerator and grabbed the stuff they wanted.  There was only one small squabble when some prized liquor was almost taken.  Bill had separated some of the alcohol to share with his family in Pensacola, and when he realized that some of it was being ransacked he got a little agitated.  In our defense, it wasn’t clearly labeled as “Do Not Take” items.  At any rate, the liquor was promptly returned and saved for the Pensacola reunion.  (I can practically hear the his brothers & sisters breathing a sigh of relief.) 

We spent the next couple of days feverishly painting, packing, & cleaning.  Eventually we gave up on the painting and decided to let professionals handle the rest of it.  You know how it is…there’s always one more spot left to be done.   We turned in our keys to the property manager on Friday afternoon and drove down to Jacksonville for some much needed rest.    

That’s pretty much it—the pack out was surprisingly uneventful.  We spent the following week in Jacksonville with family and old friends and we had a going away party at my sister’s house.   This last week we've been in Pensacola with Bill's family at an amazing beach house and we've had a wonderful time.  (Really, how many other people can say that about spending a week at the beach with their in-laws?)  It's been such a great break from this crazy move and I'm so glad they were all willing to accomodate their schedules to do this trip before we left.  Well, we’re finally in Jacksonville.  Thanks for reading all of this—it’s been a really boring drive (sort of like this post) so I got a little wordy back there.   Next time I write, I may be crossing the Pacific!