The “Everything We Own Fits in this Trailer” Edition
At least this time we left Seattle it wasn’t in a torrential downpour. Though we were once again much later than our estimated departure target time. But I’m not going to take full responsibility for it. The day started with “one step forward two steps back” in nearly every endeavor. From forgetting items in the house (repeatedly) to actually selling the cop car and forgetting to collect the money (there are no words you can call me that I didn’t already hear from my husband, don’t worry..and yes, I went back and got the dough.) And then picking up the trailer at the uHaul station only to have it hooked up and ready to roll when it became apparent: 1) we needed an adaptor for our electrical outlet and then after acquiring said adaptor up the street; 2) realizing the back lights weren’t working properly.
By the time we got the trailer fully functioning and parked at our storage unit to transport our stuff from 10×15 stationary box to a 6×12 moveable box, nerves were frayed. I think it was the first time in recent memory that I could imagine actually doing physical harm to my husband. I’m sure he felt the same way about me.
But we got over it. And the day did not go by without some marvelous successes.
1) The Jeep got a clean bill of health at its tune up and because of my coupon, the whole oil/lube/fliter/checkup thing was only $30 at the dealer.
2) My friend was able to watch our kids during the “two hours turning into six hours” that was picking up and loading our trailer. Then she fed us salmon burgers. Seriously, everyone needs a Paula. Go out and get a Paula. Today.
3) Despite the battle lines of wills being drawn in the sand at the storage facility, we did indeed fit all of our belongings into the trailer. Barely.
4) The kids slept most of the way through Washington and we all happily caught some Zs at a rest stop in Oregon.
So while the day may have been punctuated by moments of ire and frustration, overall “silver lining attitudes” prevailed. Everything we own fits into a small trailer and our Jeep, not including the Xcargo which is now forever destroyed. Somehow, it still seems like too much stuff. And while we didn’t get out of town until 8pm, we did get out of town with all of our gear, some potential new business in our pockets, and tired children.
As I gaze out the window on Highway 84 heading east through Idaho, I’m thankful for that. And eager to have our Littleton home base fully established as we further seek to build this crazy experiment called mobile PR.
