I'm living in the ocean

"That sounds like fun," Lulu said as I explained over the phone that we had a roommate. Ed. Justin's roommate before I decided to make the Outer Banks my permanent home. Plus there's James, the neighbor across the street who comes over almost every day.

It is often the four of us sitting in the living room. I'm the token girl. A role not unfamiliar. A role which I assumed in optometry school living with my boyfriend and his three male roommies in Oregon. It was an education in all things male, and perverse words I didn't know (but certainly need to know) like "tea-bagging".

There is a comfort sitting around the small living room, all seats filled, debates swirling around without any particular direction. Sometimes the TV is on, sometimes not.

Last night Ed was eating pizza, James, Chinese take out, and the two of us, Ahi tuna & broccoli. It seems that Justin and I are the most obvious hippies, but James and Ed fall into the similar lines of thought at times and the words that stream out of their mouths are interesting as their varied occupations.

James is a mechanic. Ed is a former special ed teacher, turned kite board instructor. Justin does graphic design. And I am of course, a gypsy. Or sometimes medical professional, sometimes writer, sometimes activist, still finding my way.

Bailey spends the entire day looking like he's been shot. It's just the way he sleeps. He's the thirteen year old Australian Heeler. And there's two cats, one half-dead black&white (Oreo) and one pure ebony (Midnight) who has hissing confused with purring.

I could not have conjured this place up in my imagination.

Moreso, Buxton is on the Outer Banks, which is situated forty miles off the coast of North Carolina. I am on an island in the Sea. In the South.

And so what I have learned is you never know what you need. Or what you're going to get. But you need to be open minded to what's presented to you. And accept it as a gift.

We're in Buxton, at the elbow of the sandbar of the outer banks

 The Outer Banks in relation to the state of NC

Shopping malls breed existential crises

This week I've been trying to get myself organized to move to Virginia. I finally opened and repacked every single box in the basement and it looks like a bomb went off down there, but I found everything I want to bring along and dumped it into my room. So now I practically need to wear full body armor to safely make it to my bed which is covered as well... do not be surprised if you soon see a photo of me in a cast from self-inflicted injury.

Government Fun Take II: In the last week, I've been inundated with government forms, though not as bad as the Germany job. That, plus trying to find housing out east from here require a massive amount of time. I may end up in an extended stay for a while and then try to move into a short term roommate situation. I've emailed a lot of potential roommates but have not had much response. Maybe people from Virginia are scared of Iowans.

It snowed here. My mom and I went to the mall today. I figured it was a good idea to rest my back after the heavy labor of yesterday. (I was a little sore.) The mall sounded leisurely but for some reason, I felt like I was going insane and started having suicidal thoughts while looking at the multicolored fleeces in Scheels. Life just seemed so dumb. I know there's no sense to think of these things. I thought, good thing I'm going to work soon.

This place I'm now is a weird spot to be in. To think of starting this new job, because it is temporary, seems like it is prolonging the period of decision making. But that's not really true, since I am going to use this job to evaluate a career with the VA system.

I would like to move somewhere into my own place again with my own things, but I don't think that is going to happen anytime soon. But then I have a feeling if I were moving into a place I might feel a sense of loss at the loss of freedom. So it's better to just enjoy where I am now.

Moving pictures and Last Fruhstuck mit Ernst & Helga

The piano being crated!

Everything waited on the curb for the truck to arrive.

Inventory.

With everything inside and the wall built.

The mini was sparkling for customs. Note the USA license plate.

Ernst.

Camping in my house.

Ernst & Helga.

Goodbye Fruhstuck.

Next stop:

That's all she brought! The green bag strikes again!

Moving back to the US is about as much fun as a Cambodian border crossing.

Still jumping through hurdles. Household is planned to ship on Tuesday. After two trips and five hours waiting at the DMV, I got USA license plates on my car- the first time the Mini has had American plates. They are temporary US plates that allow you to drive the car for the first 30 days stateside before you have it registered.

It looks like there is going to be a summer vacation in USA also at the behest of Homeland Security. I've been told that I have to be stateside when my goods hit customs, which means that I am going to be in the US at the end of June for a couple weeks. But that is still in the research stages.

The moving fun continues.. but I comfort myself in that each day it is closer to its end...

T 56 hours and counting...

I've gotten a plethora of emails with military-speak. The latest was "Please proceed to the nearest RAPIDS for your CAC issuance." An assortment of abbreviated instructions followed. I'm not certain if I should be proceeding to the RAPIDS in Portland or the RAPIDS in Germany. All I know is that I am heading for the RAPIDS.

Which brings me to my next concern, "Am I smart enough to remember all these acronyms?" Really. I was always a good reasoner, good at math, whatnot, understanding other points of views, but memorizing. No, I was complete Shite at that. If my career were based on memorizing, I'd have to go and sleep under the bridge. So luckily up until now, I've not been required to be a memorizing fool. At least if I am in Europe, I can pick the Ponte Vecchio to sleep under. That makes me feel better.

Yesterday, I received an email welcoming me to Vilseck base from the major who's in charge of new civilians. She's sending someone to pick me up at the airport in Nuremberg on Monday and then I've been instructed to get dropped off at my hotel. Tuesday morning, the major is going to pick me up at 7:30 and outfit me with all my necessary IDs and cards and introduce me to my new clinic.

For the my last two days on US soil, I'm snuggled in at Carrie's house once again. With Oatie in tow, the place is a sanctuary of free wifi happiness, albeit interrupted by various repairmen, as the furnace stopped (was clogged with algae) and one of the bathroom electrical circuits had a breaker trip in the attic. No wonder we couldn't figure that one out.

My new buyers are moved into my house and apparently delighted with the place. Praise the lord. I'm happy to be Sara-less-one-house. Soon to be Sara-with-no-houses, but that'll have to wait til spring.

Auf Weidersehen! Guten Nacht! Tchus bis morgen.

One down, one to go.

The last night in my house... (I had planned to drink myself into a stupor.)

Moving day: 13 Oktober 2009.

Some of the junk in my basement. Cripes!

Mom: your piano story went over so well- see the shipping order. Kathie is an industrious North Dakotan who is not afraid to set goals and acheive them.

There goes the piano. It's wrapped with paper and cardboard and shrinkwrap.

Hopefully the final fig suicide I ever have to see.

All my stuff. That part in the front is just their packing materials. And the whole container is for me. I should've gotten more things!

The movers and I were out of the house at 4:56PM. Buyers took official possession at 5:00PM. The other realtor came over to get the key and the title company called to say it recorded just before that. So tomorrow I will have a wire into my account. Perhaps travel money? Just kidding. You never know with me.

***

The saga of the sale was not without its hishs and lows, truly a tale to be told- as life is, most of the time. If it were all smooth sailing, how would we know when we were happy?

***

I find it slightly odd that I am moving to Germany in five days, but also I find it slightly normal. What does that mean? I do not know. I expected that I would have a feeling of glee or relief or something on my last walk-through, but I just felt flat. I am glad to be done with it.

(***=moronic computer issues)

The next 10 days:

The sun is shining, the gods are smiling. The dust has settled. The cards have fallen. The figs have laid. Ok, I made up that last cliche. However you put it, everything is as it should be.

I just said goodbye to Chris, a lovely blonde woman who was here on behalf of the moving company hired to ship my few belongings overseas. The company was chosen for the safety of the transport of my beloved piano.

Earlier today, Lourdes (my very old friend and roommate from 1998-2000) and her baby Calvin visited with me on my orange sofa. We wandered the neighbourhoods strolling to lunch at Grand Central Bakery.

Yesterday, my closing date was moved to October 13th at 5:00PM due to the Columbus Day holiday on Monday. A true godsend, as movers were just finalised in the last day. With all the stops and starts and other things, every single thing hinged on another and somehow they have all connected together. Nicely.

SO HERE IS THE FINAL FINAL FINAL SCHEDULE (of which I could not speak until just now.)

Mon 12 Oct: sign papers to close on house
Tues 13 Oct: movers arrive at 8AM and pack up; closing at 5:00PM
Wed-Sat 14-17 Oct: take it easy and see friends
Sun 18 Oct: fly out to Germany NWA
#226 Portland to Minneapolis 8:29AM-1:50PM
#310 Minneapolis to Amsterdam 3:10PM-6:30AM arrive 19 Oct
#8283 Amsterdam to Nuremburg 8:40AM-9:55AM (KLM)

Remember all, I have a TWO BEDROOM, TWO BATHROOM apartment in BAVARIA with a WASHER AND DRYER. PLEASE COME AND VISIT. I promise I will bake you cookies and talk your ear off if you grace my threshold.

House rehabing: the short list

I'm back in my house. It's nicer than I thought it would be. (Gee, I had good decorating sense!) It's good to fill it with my spirit and blood.

Today I touch-up painted as much as I could, repainted the bathroom and ran to the hardware store for a few supplies. The day is gone. And I have much to do.

The yard: a never-ending creator of rotting pears. Next will be rotting figs. Good thing I have massive yard waste bins.

Also trying to re-decorate the place with my few artistic things. "Staging" I guess is what it's called. I could have used my realtor's things, but mine probably fit better in my house. Certainly, the giddyup chair will help sell the house for me.

The list is endless, and it feels like I am not getting much done. One person, even crazy, insane me, is limited on what she can accomplish.

Add on to that, thoughts of Germany, moving companies calling, continuing the credentialling process and impending letter to renters with deposit refund to compose.

I don't have a minute to spare.

New occupation: Nomad

I'm thriving in my joblessness, all two days of it. I walked around in the sunshine today, having a coffee, reading the Sunday paper, getting a few items for my trip. Every once in a while the thought pops into my head, "You're unemployed." Then I laugh. What freedom. What whimsy! "I'll have to watch my finances," I think. But my mom raised us right and we all save even if we're not trying.

The last few days have been a flourish of activity, with barbeques, parties, coffees and the packing up of my miniature household in the midst of it all. Tomorrow is move-out day and I'm off to camp with my students (I mean colleagues!) for a few days up north by a lake. When I return to Auckland, I'll have about days to relax before I fly off to Thailand.

Day 4 of homelessness

So far, I'm liking homelessness- spent the first night on Matt and Felicity's couch. Then to Carrie's house since. The lack of responsibility is the best feeling. I just wander through town, doing whatever, nothing on the agenda, since I have all my ducks in order for New Zealand. What freedom.

Garage Sales

I sold a pile of belongings this weekend. My first garage sale of my own had to be held in my front rooms, since I have no garage available to fill with tables. It's very nice to have less stuff. Everything is in my 5'x7' storage unit in my basement
(it's not even full). The strangest thing was when I bagged up my orange bike and stuck it in there. It just felt final.

I woke up this morning in my down mummy bag on Aaron's old mattress in the living room and thought, I'm really moving to New Zealand. As if the empty house wasn't sign enough before the sleeping bag. By the way, the sleeping bag is awesome in the house.

Only 3 more days in my house... strange. I brought in the recycling bins for the last time.

It's cold and raining here.

Calming the nerves...

Today I emptied the contents of my house. I started this morning with a bed and a couch and chairs. Now I am sitting on the floor in my living room, contemplating the next thing to do. I thought it might be fun to sleep down here. On the floor. Maybe in a sleeping bag. That would get me ready for what might be to come, or for anything, maybe. Two days ago I was in the shower and I realized that I only had two weeks to pack up the entire house. Not a lot of time. So I got nervous and posted everything on Craig's List. Like magic, my nerves were calmed!

Now just have to sell my car and other miscellaneous belongings. How strange.

I wonder if Craig's list makes the world a better place. Most of the folks are so nice, helps to reinforce the goodness of humanity.

Well. That is all for now. At the rate I'm going, the next post will be when I'm forty!

The winner is... "Lord of the Rings"

Ok, I just logged on after a bizillion days since the last time!

The plan is rolling... Work in New Zealand for one year, with the possibility of renewing for a second year. I'll be advising and teaching optometry students at the university in Auckland. I've gotten so used to it that it seems normal to be moving there now.