luke fell asleep just after take off on the virgin flight to london while tim checked out the gift bag

The first time I moved abroad, I was single and focused on simplifying my life.  Mom and Dad let me put everything I owned in their basement, and I packed four oversized bags and headed for a new life in Sofia.  A lot of other things contributed to the relative ease of that move: the airlines still allowed TWO checked bags for free, the airlines still fed you domestically for free, the airlines were just nicer; I was moving to a completely foreign country so the school provided a lot more services to the new hires; I didn't have two children; I didn't own a home and then get it ready for rental before leaving; there's more but it could get ridiculous and I think you get it.

The last time I moved abroad, I had a husband and a 9 month old.  But it wasn't too bad.  We'd been planning for the move for over a year and had worked out all the details and saved loads of money in preparation.  We moved in with Mom and Dad. We owned a small flat and didn't have anything that we weren't using.  This four bedroom home has managed to collect all kinds of 'just-in-case' items.  The process of deciding to trash, give away, sell, pack for storage or take with us has been tiring.  We didn't store anything when we left England.  It either stayed in the flat for the renters or went with us.  We didn't trash or sell much because we really only had what we used.

We have said several times through this process that it's been hard because I got hired late in the season, but I think that even a February result would have meant the same down-to-the-wire life we've had this last week.

But it's done now and we've made it to England as an intact and happy family unit, and so much of the stress has disappeared.  I think I've stopped clenching my jaw.  I went to the dentist in the midst of the last minute packing because I thought I had a loose filling.  No - ligament damage from stress clenching.  You'd think I'd have noticed, and I did once the dentist pointed it out.  The pain is lessening.

I researched baggage on line for both our airlines, American and Virgin.  I called them.  I was prepared for being charged by each airline $150/bag over the one per passenger limit.  Imagine our joy when we checked in at DIA and was told that A. we'd only be charged by one airline and B. instead of paying for 6, yes 6 bags, we'd only have to pay for 2.  No we did not ask for an explanation.  Even better, car seats are free and we had them in a bag with our golf clubs, so the whole lot came free.  We checked 11 bags and had a carry on and personal item each.   I don't really want to do it again.  The sad thing is that once we're in our flat and have it all put away, the flat will look nearly as empty as it did before we arrived since it's mostly clothes.  Computers and toys make up the rest.  Thanks to the Viners we'll have some camp furniture.  After packing and storing our house of stuff, we're actually looking forward to bare necessity living.  Any bets on how long that will last?

pretending to sleep