Leg One in One Word (And Maybe a Tiny Follow-up)

Whew.

I'm not telling how long it took us to get to where we are or where we are exactly.  All I will say is we didn't make it to Nashville, and it wasn't because of traffic in Atlanta.  Traveling with dogs is much like traveling with children (I assume).  You have to keep them from arguing, stop frequently for potty breaks and laugh (and want to scream) at their antics.  The whole world is new to them - every sight, every sound... and the best part is that their home is wherever you are.  The stopping contributed to the crappy time to our current location (the story is for another day... when I have several hours), along with several other things.  It all started with oversleeping and ended at a hotel (still in the South!) bone-weary and confused.  We're confused because our time to our location doesn't add up - I don't think anyone has driven to this city from Jacksonville in as many hours.  I'm convinced we entered some sort of space-time mix-up in Southern Georgia around the rebel flag as big as Texas and exited about a mile away in eleven hours.  It's not THAT bad, but close.  Oh, and did everyone stop accepting cash while we were gone (another story altogether)? WTH/F?  Maybe it will add up tomorrow, but I doubt it.  I think Leg One Space-Time Mix-up will forever be a mystery.  For now, it's definitely been an adventure.  More soon...

Compromise!

I'm an avid, sometimes overly-OCD planner by nature, so when it became evident that leaving tomorrow for the long drive north wasn't feasible, I immediately wanted a replacement date.  Planning is much easier when you have a concrete date and/or time line in place, at least in my opinion (I'm always right! Ok, alright... maybe not!)

Justin - my sweet, loving, dear husband - is NOT a planner.  His idea of planning is... well, there's really no way to describe his planning because he doesn't plan.  At all.  He's a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants planner, if there is such a thing, which means we clash in this area.  Normally, we balance out one another, as I've mentioned before, but typically this difference in planning methods just drives us both a wee bit nuts.

I gave him a nice, leather planner system for Christmas one year, and he carried it in his briefcase and car in plain view, which led me to believe he was using it!  For work!  For doctor appointments!  To mark my birthday and our anniversary!  I then made the critical error of opening it on his birthday in November (11 months after I gave it to him) so I could write a nice little happy birthday note and insert a little card as a surprise when he got to work.  I noticed that the month of November was blank except for the "YOUR BIRTHDAY!" note on November 14.  Then, I noticed that all the pages looked brand new - no dog-eared pages, notes sticking out, and there were NO WRITING INSTRUMENTS.  "Huh," I thought... "Strange, but perhaps he's just taking really good care of the expensive gift I gave him."  As I flipped through the planner in awe at the sheer volume of blank pages and months, I was initially irritated but started laughing when I realized the only things written in the planner were the reminders I wrote in the planner before giving it to him.  There was no notes - not even one - in his handwriting.  Even his name and contact information in the front was in MY handwriting.  As I continued laughing, I finally accepted that the act of me giving him a planner wasn't going to make him plan and I did what any reasonable person would do - I took it back to use it for myself, and it's been my planner since.  I know, I'm such an Indian-giver and I'm going straight to hell.  At least I'll have a plan of what to do while I'm there.

With one of our main points of contention laid out for the world to see, you'll understand why we now do not have a set move date.  It's called compromise, and apparently that's what married couples do.  To be honest, I never even knew the meaning of the word "compromise" until October 13, 2007.  That's when we were married and I was thrust into this world of compromise.  Who knew?

So, we will move sometime between now and 2012.  I'm being facetious of course, which is fun and all, but in reality, we will move sometime between November 5 and November 13.  A date range longer than one week would give me a strange rash and cause me to twitch uncontrollably, and Justin would explode if we set a specific date, so there you go!  See?  That, my friends, is compromise at its best, and no one ends up admitted to the hospital with a strange medical condition OR committed to a mental institution.


Chicago, here we come!  Sometime between November 5 and 13!  If this date range gives you a strange rash or makes you twitch, please send your doctor bills directly to Justin.

Are You Guys NUTS? Nah, Probably Just Misunderstood

There have been more than a handful of people who are shocked that we are making such a big move when we don't have jobs lined up in Chicago yet.  I understand their shock, which is mostly concern and worry, so we understand.

What's disconcerting is the minute percentage of people who believe we are truly certifiably crazy without truly understanding all the reasons we're moving.  Some of the questions are:

"You're moving WHERE? In the WINTER?" (Technically, it's still fall, but you get the picture...)
"Why on Earth would you move to a  new city when you don't even have a job there?"
"Aren't you scared that you'll get up there and not find work?"
"WTH is wrong with you guys?"
"Why not just stay in Jacksonville and continue to look for work in town and nearby?"
"What, is Jacksonville not good enough for you?"
"WTF?!?!?!"

These are actual, honest-to-God questions that have been asked of us, and believe us when we say we've considered all the aforementioned questions and then some... probably hundreds of questions have crossed our minds and been discussed.

And my personal favorite isn't really a question at all - it's more like a statement of fact.  "You two are batshit crazy and certifiably insane for moving to Chicago without jobs during the coldest time of the year.''

All of these questions and concerns have been calmly answered to those asking them, as we asked ourselves the same exact questions before making the final decision to move.  The decision was difficult and we're not just flying by the seat of our pants here.  We submitted well over 350 personalized resumes, cover letters and portfolio samples to potential employers in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Gainesville, Daytona, Tallahassee, Orlando, Tamp, Miami, Atlanta, Charleston... you get the picture.  We didn't submit a total of 350 resumes - we submitted over 350 EACH... even more for Justin, who has been unemployed five months longer.  Employers with hourly positions don't want us because they are concerned we will jump ship once we find something new, and they aren't entirely wrong in that assumption.  We agonized over our options for digging out of our economic and employment quandary for months and months, looking for jobs and the cost of living in well over 20 locations (mostly in the comfort of the South), and after crunching the numbers (and wanting to crunch in one another's skull), Chicago made the most sense on multiple levels.

Justin spent most of his life growing up in Chicago and is extremely familiar with the city, culture, economy, political environment, suburbs, housing market, people and all the other tangible and intangibles of a large city.  He could easily teach me the ropes, although I've spent time there and fully believe it's the most incredible city in the United States (don't hate, lovers of other big cities).  We have loads of personal and professional contacts in the city, Justin's family and friends, which gives us an immediate support network should we need one - and I'm sure we will.  In addition, it is one of the meccas for marketing and advertising professionals, which is the chosen field for both of us.  Our education and experience in international marketing will suit us well in a global city, unlike Jacksonville, which is still struggling to identify itself.  The opportunities professionally are endless, and for someone like me, who thrives working for multi-national organizations, it just makes sense.

What also makes sense is that we have somewhere to live for very little or no cost until we find work and are standing on our own two feet again.  Justin and I have each experienced two layoffs (EACH) during the past 18 months, which has not only knocked us on our financial asses, but also had a profound effect on us personally.  Having a wonderful place to live with plenty of space for us and our dogs with a family member who wants nothing more than to see us succeed will be very nurturing and supportive, which is what we need right now.  This cannot take away from the fact that my own mother has allowed us to live with her since January and has helped and supported us in every way imaginable, and we could never pay her back like she deserves.  The woman is a saint, she really, truly is.  Thanks, Ma... we'd be homeless, living in a cardboard box, dumpster diving and absolutely insane if it hadn't been for your support these past months.  You have been beyond incredible and again, I have no idea how we'll ever be able to repay you.  Will a grandchild do? :)

The move was not a decision we came up with one day under duress or born out of frustration.  The decision was made after an excruciating analysis of what our life has become during this time of economic turmoil throughout the country and world, and although neither of us considers ourselves a selfish individual, it's time to be selfish or we may not survive.  Heck, our relationship may not survive if we don't make some big changes.

So, some may think we're off our rocker for leaving this beautiful, warm, lovely state of Florida for the frigid Midwest (no doubt - it WILL be difficult), but we prefer to look at it as an incredible adventure with limitless opportunities to not only rebuild our lives, but redefine ourselves.

The most difficult aspect of moving will not be adjusting to new surroundings, the cold weather or the unknown, but leaving a place we both love dearly, leaving family and friends we cherish with all of our hearts, leaving our beloved ocean and we'll both admit we're a little nervous of the unknown.

With all this said, if you're concerned or think we're crazy for moving, please put yourself in our shoes for a minute, although I admit you may or may not know ALL the reasons behind the move (and there are more reasons beyond financial and employment, but those reasons are personal), so that may be difficult.  Perhaps you wouldn't do the same, and that's ok.

We all handle adversity differently; however, we're taking a giant leap of faith together and it's taking this adventure TOGETHER that's the best part of all.  We are so incredibly fortunate to have one another.  No words can describe the bond we have, and this move will strengthen our bond even more, if that's even possible.  We will emerge stronger and more in love than ever.  And, we WILL return to Florida.  You can bet on it.

All we ask of our family and friends is understanding and support during this tough time, and to trust our decision, have faith in us and know that we will emerge stronger.  We love you all so much more than we could ever show, even if you do think we're batshit crazy, which you should already know. ;)

A Wrinkle

As usual, we've encountered a wrinkle in our best laid-out plans, and our move date is being pushed back a week, maybe two.  Currently, the latest we'll leave Jacksonville is November 12, but I'm damned determined to hit the road by November 4... preferably October 29.

There are several reasons for the change in plans, some of which I won't get into publicly, but let's just say this gives me another reason to make bad jokes about lawyers.  No, we're not in trouble, not getting a divorce and haven't done anything illegal - it is just taking far longer to tie up important loose ends than we originally anticipated.

It's a bit rough, once you've made up your mind about something like this, set a date, are pumped up about leaving and have worked very hard towards hitting said date.  Allow me to rephrase - it's difficult for ME.  Justin is much more laid back about scheduling in general (ANY scheduling), and he's always been better at rolling with the punches than me.  This is one of the many reasons we balance out one another.  He calms me down and I keep him on track - not an easy task from either perspective, but it works for us and that's all that matters.  Did I mention that it can also be maddening?  Of course in the most loving way possible!

So, while I'm anxious to get moving, the change in the moving timeline does have benefits.  We will have more time to iron out the wrinkles, which will decrease our stress levels, and we will have more time to visit and spend time with family and friends in town.

I will do my absolute best in the interim to enjoy the beautiful fall weather in Florida and stay busy so the time flies by.  I'm confident our move date will be here before we know it!

Travel Plans and Final Loose Ends

Now that we're finally honing in on an actual departure date (October 29), we are starting to plan for the long road trip.  It's a 17-hour drive through Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, with a nice jaunt through the Smoky Mountains and Appalachian Mountains, right when the leaves will be peaking or just past peak.  It should be beautiful in Northern Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Southern Indiana (see map).

We plan on taking our time and making stops at several state parks along the interstate for rest breaks with the dogs and hope to capture some great photographs along the way.  Justin is very much a "Let's get there as quickly as possible" kind of traveler, and I'm a fan of sauntering along, taking in the scenery.  We will compromise, I'm sure, and I'll pick two nice stops for a long walk with the dogs and photo opportunities, especially in the Knoxville area where four states intersect.  Personally, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the Smoky and Appalachian Mountains, having spent many summers in the Appalachians visiting my dad's parents and attending youth conferences, as well as many President's Day weekends skiing in Boone, NC.  With that said, I'm excited to even be driving through the mountains, even if it's in the foothills for most of the time.

Since we'll have both dogs with us, and they are likely to be totally NUTSO after hours in the car, we plan on spending the night in/near Nashville along I-65 around hour ten into the 17-hour trip.  The idea is to leave around 9:00am on a Thursday, arriving in Nashville late afternoon, and then continuing the drive the next morning so we'll arrive in La Grange around dinnertime.  We'll relax and get the dogs acquainted with their new home and surroundings, and start unpacking a day or two after arrival.

There's a possibility we'll leave a week later, but it all depends on whether we wrap up all the loose ends in Jacksonville over the next week and a half, as well as when Justin's family is ready for us to arrive.  We're trying to be sensitive to their schedule, as they are being incredibly gracious to let us stay with them in the short-term while we get settled.  We are both already updating all our online networking profiles, resumes, etc., already looking for and applying for jobs in the area.  In addition, we want enough time to say good-bye to family, friends and our favorite spots around town our last week in Jacksonville, including several very long swims in the ocean.

Aside from our family and friends, we will both miss the beach and ocean the most, as it's been such a big part of my life for 30+ years and Justin's for ten years.  Luckily, Chicago is on the expansive Lake Michigan and there are beautiful beaches nearby north of the city and to the east in places like Michigan City, so I will be able to get to a large body of water and not "closed in."   We expect to be doing many outdoor activities, even in the winter.  I've been researching ski resorts in the Midwest (yes, there ARE several ski resorts a short drive from the city), cross-country skiing trails, as well as some of the beautiful state parks along many rivers and lakes.

We're both very excited to explore the great outdoors, and we're fortunate there are several beautiful forest preserves and nature conservatories within walking distance from our new home.  Hiking, walking and visiting state parks is super cheap, and it will provide us with things to do on the weekend and days we need to blow off some steam, because I know the job searching process won't be easy.  It's a bonus that the dogs are permitted on leashes, and we can't wait to see how they react to snow!  It should be hilarious!  The physical activity will be good for all of us, including the dogs, who will need long walks to compensate for not having a fenced-in backyard (which we hope to figure out when we arrive).  Maggie has terrible arthritis and hip dysplasia for a four-year old dog, and we hope that her new anti-inflammatory and increased low-impact exercise will help rebuild the atrophied muscle in her hind legs and get her back to her old, spunky self.

*Kankakee River State Park in the winter

It's really exciting that we're almost ready to hit the road, yet leaving my family and our friends is still pulling on my heart occasionally, resulting a minor tearful moments.  We both know this is what is necessary for us to rebuild, and change is never easy, but this move has already changed us on many levels.  We're happier, excited having something to look forward to, hopeful for the first time in a long time and extremely motivated to make this work... and I'll be honest, it's been a long, long time since we've felt this way.  Cheers to new beginnings... especially with my best friend!

Bittersweet

The house is finally packed and the majority of our belongings (sans clothing, toiletries and important paperwork) are now sitting in a Pack Rat pod in the local storage facility.  We still have to rearrange some boxes in the container so we can pack several boxes of warm weather clothing, our plasma TV (which MUST sit upright the entire trip and be in a "protected" space) and anything else we won't be able to fit in the car, but thankfully we'll be able to work on this in the air conditioned Pack Rat facility.  It looks like we'll have to pull out many of the items towards the front to try and get to some space that's right smack in the middle.  It should be an interesting test of our combined "tetris" and packing skills.

With everything out of the house, it seems more and more like a shell and less like our home.  It's been a bittersweet process, with both of us excited about the future but still a little sad to be leaving the home we purchased thinking we would raise our children there and stay for the long haul.  It's such a cute home with so much potential, a tremendous backyard and in a quiet neighborhood convenient to all main roads.  We really loved that house, but only when it was our home, and now that's it's empty, it's much easier to leave.  It's still not easy, but easier, especially since we have something exciting to look forward to.  I thought we would cry a lot more than we have, and thought it would be more difficult than it actually was, so I'm happy it feels like we're beginning to move on and look forward, instead of looking back at all the "what if" scenarios.  The past 18 months have been difficult enough without continuing to harp on the past and things we can't change.  So, it's time to move on, and I'm so glad we both feel that way.  It's so nice to have something to look forward to together.

So, with that we say a bittersweet goodbye to our old home and hello to new adventures and better days ahead!

The Decision

Justin and I have decided to make a drastic move - one we both considered now and then over the past nine years, but the circumstances were never quite right - we're moving from my hometown of Jacksonville, Florida to Justin's hometown of Chicago, Illinois.  Say, what?

With no job prospects in town, and unemployment benefits running out quickly, Justin and I decided to take a leap of faith and move to Chicago.  This month...  like in three weeks.  Whew.  We're packing up the house this weekend into a Pack Rat container and we'll be off and running after tying up some loose ends in town.  We both are hoping and praying this move is just what we need to get our lives back in order and heal after the past 18 months rocked our world.

I hope this blog will help keep family and friends informed about how we're doing and our latest adventures.  I've always wanted to keep up with a blog, but never had something interesting enough to write about often.  It seems like we finally have a story to tell.