One Week until First Packout

It's only one week until movers come to pack my unaccompanied air baggage - aka air freight - for my initial move to the Washington, DC area.  I've started putting things into one of our spare bedrooms (which also functions as guest room, yoga room, sometimes workout room, and second TV room) and thinking about what will go UAB and what I will take with me as checked baggage on my flight -- which is in only two weeks.

This is a somewhat odd and new feeling for me:  trying to distill my life into 250 pounds*. Each time I've moved before I either didn't have much (OKC to DC; DC to Boston) or it all came with, like when we purchased our house.  It's a good exercise for trying to determine what's really important and what's not - along with what can go away (I'm looking at you, three-button suits).

Another first -- I'm sure this isn't nearly the last time I'll be uttering that phrase -- we're getting our wills and other estate planning documents all in order.  Never had one before and it's a bit weird to really focus on your own demise and death.  It needs to be done, though.

The community garden is coming along really well this year.  Figures, since I'll be leaving it at the height of growing season.  Mark will take good care of it, I have no doubt.

I finished a new messenger bag to take with me to DC.  Purple-ish Marc Jacobs thick cotton fabric for the outside and an adorable Japanese-made cotton map print for the lining, pockets, and accents.  It's pretty cute!

What else...We got married!

Yep, after about 20 years together, we decided it's finally time to make it official.  We had a lovely, tiny Tuesday-evening ceremony at home.  We wanted to use our yard (I call it a 'Beacon Hill Garden'), but there were threats of heavy thunderstorms and even, possibly, tornado activity.  So, we had it in our front parlor, with a Justice of the Peace, and a few great friends.  It was hot and steamy -- literally, since we don't have A/C.  Dinner afterwards at Rossetti's down the street was fantastic, and Chris Rossetti was very nice and charming!

L to R:  Bob S., Bob A., Tony, Me, Mark, Jamie, Dean, Neal, David -- all our "Best Men"

Dean and Bob



*Ok, maybe that's a bit melodramatic.  I get 250 pounds for my air freight.  I also get two checked bags -- each 50 pounds, plus a carry-on bag -- about 25 pounds, plus one personal "item" -- let's say another 15 pounds.  So, really, I guess that makes about 390 pounds total.

Travel Orders!

I got my travel orders, or Appoint Orders, yesterday afternoon.  With that I was able to get my flight from Boston to DC arranged.  I also started coordinating my packing and moving.

It's feeling real.  Five weeks from today I'll be heading down to DC and moving into an apartment in Arlington.  

My pack out date is July 1, so that's only four weeks away.  I don't have any furniture or large appliances or stuff like that (called HHE - house hold effects) to worry about for now so packing and moving should be fairly easy.  Hopefully, my air freight, or unaccompanied air baggage (UAB), will already be in DC and can be delivered to my apartment before orientation starts on July 13.  I do need to see if my bicycle will be shipped UAB or if I have to make other arrangements.  DC and Northern Virginia have become very bike-forward since I've been there last, so I definitely want my bicycle with me.

I've gone through my clothes and culled a lot.  Two large bags for Goodwill and another large bag of suits, shirts, slacks, etc. for a work-clothing drive at the Boston Design Center.  Feels good to purge things.  Now I have an idea of what I'll need to buy to rebuild my working wardrobe:  suits, a few shirts, a couple of pairs of pants, some ties.  Dress during three-week orientation is suit and tie; during training that follows, probably less formal, but still professional.

I changed my goal of making five pairs of pants to altering and restyling pants I already have, based on a thorough review of my clothing.  That's done!  Now I'm making a messenger bag to take with me.  It's based on this Bathurst Bag pattern but a bit larger with a few style changes.  No pics, yet, but when I'm done.

Lots more to do in the next few weeks.  After so much waiting, though, it's nice to have movement and be busy.