PACKING IT IN!
All right, yesterday was the big day where we moved 95% of our stuff into a 10 x 15 foot storage unit with the help of “Starving Students”. Well, I’m not sure that Miguel and Juan were students, but they were two extremely nice, hardworking Hispanic men and had a big truck. It was hell, and way more work than you ever expect (as any move generally is, unless you get the professional complete move) Over the past 4 days we have diligently sorted our stuff into 50 boxes that were going to storage and had both created separate containers for our “A” clothes that we might want in the near future, on our trip, or soon after we get back. We also have a box for stuff definitely going RTW.
We have kept our computer out, a mattress, some basic kitchen essentials, two lawn chairs, a folding camp table, and still have a smattering of art on the walls and other odds and ends that will probably add up to two trips in a City CarShare Honda Element (which are amazingly good moving vehicles with the seats removed).
Our glamorous life for 5 days.
The first issue was trying to park a 30-foot moving truck on a street that has 10-feet between 2 rows of parked cars, one of the narrowest in the city. This was my first clue that Miguel was a bit of a drama queen, as he made thee situation seem somewhat unworkable. But after some discussion with our neighbors with 3 cars and a bit of tree trimming (accidental), Miguel made it work. So we started loading up and Cheryl headed off to work (she is doing a bit of short-term contract work at McKesson), as it seemed things were under control. We had put stuff not to move in the closest, bathroom or labeled it “NO” if it was not to go. Or so we thought. After filling the truck and hearing Miguel state over and over, “Man, you got a lotta stuff” and me responding “Yeah, but we used to have a lot more” I think he was amazed how much stuff came out of our little cottage. After joining them in the truck (always fun being one of the crew) This of course was after Miguel portended more doom and gloom due to painting awnings blocking the entrance to the storage unit. We got that resolved in about 15 minutes. 
OUR SQUATTERS QUARTERS!
Then the major panic set in as we got to up to the storage unit. I forgot to tell him that we already had 20 boxes in there and that there is a big column in the middle! We opened it and he immediately shook his head and said he didn’t think it would all fit! Moments of panic, as we had already paid for the unit for a year, and we had no way to get some excess somewhere else. Luckily, we scratched our heads and started to plot out how we could make this work. This is where the bonding occurred as we both agreed that we could make it work with some careful planning. It turns out, Miguel and I shared a gene for special arrangement and it turned into a 2-hour 3D tetris game. By the way, the best way is to mix boxes and furniture as you go with boxes filling in above the strong furniture and vice-versa for the “light” furniture. Then jam odds and ends (art work, skis, backpacks, lamps, etc) into the little gaps and high spaces on top, right up to the 8-foot chain mesh roof. After 2 sweaty hours, things started to come together, and we had managed to fit almost everything into only 75% of the unit, leaving just enough room for the rest of our stuff later (incl. bikes). No problem, and we both congratulated each other and I paid them (with a nice cash tip) and headed out onto the street with a great feeling of accomplishment (and a vow not to move again in at least 5 years, right!) So I got home, relaxed in our spartan cottage and was looking forward to a much needed shower and change of clothes…..but wait, where is the tall blue plastic storage container containing my “A” clothes? Not in the bathroom, not in the closets, not downstairs in the basement? Oh no…no frigin’ way…..yup….it went into storage…..I took photos of most of our rooms as we were prepping for the move (as a digital inventory) and I just looked now and there it is (see below on top of boxes). I guess it didn’t get into the bathroom or closets prior to Juan starting to move things, as we were negotiating with neighbor to move their cars. Bugger.
CONTAINER “X” ABOVE!
So, it really may be impossible to get this out of unit if it was packed in the back. I really don’t remember as we had numerous similar plastic containers (this is why I didn’t notice it going into the storage unit) It’s mostly socks and underwear that I need, although there were a few pieces of clothing in there on my RTW packing list. So I’m heading down to the unit on my bike in about an hour….wish me luck…and pass the ibuprofen.
As for the next trip, we also kept our two touring bikes which we are riding to the Ferry Building on Thursday morning to take the Amtrak California Zephyr to Grand Junction, Colorado. http://www.trainweb.com/routes/route_05/rg_5old.htm We plan on visiting Cheryl’s sister and family who live on a very remote ranch up a arid desert canyon north on Debeque. I am looking forward to seeing them and visiting with our nieces for two days. They are then going to drop us Sunday morning at the head of Glenwood Canyon, and we are going to ride East over the Rockies for 3 to 4 days to Boulder, CO; where we will stay with Cheryl’s brother, Steve, and his talented wife Claire, who is a professional sculptress (her link). The whole Brinkman clan will also be arriving and we are all going to celebrate Cheryl’s parents 50th Wedding anniversary. It’s going to be really nice, as Chas and Helen are a great set of role models on how to be happy for 50 years and beyond together. As for the bike touring, we are not in prime shape after a hectic time leaving our jobs and 3 weeks of hot travel back East, but we’re determined to give it a go and try to ride up over Vail Pass (10,600 feet) and Loveland Pass (11,900 feet- YIKES).
Tags: planning, RTW Planning, Travel, Tag Index
rich.coffin