Packing: Day 4

Tensions are running high as we enter our last five days of packing. We are down to the wire, and it's only getting harder to part with some of our last comforts of home. I didn't realize how much emotional attachment I have to some of our material objects. It's really interesting to see what we hold close and why.

This is the front of our house. A week ago, the two front windows were covered in vibrant green plants from floor to ceiling. The west wall had a large pirate chest next to the television, and next to the chest was a large hardwood desk.

Two friends of ours came over to help us move the last bits of large furniture going into our storage unit this morning. At the beginning of the day none of us expected to have as much room in the storage unit as we have now. All those years of playing Tetris instead of doing homework paid off.

We are still less than halfway finished packing. That's a good sign, right?

We've come a long way in less than a week. We have a few items in the garage, my room and my parents room. We haven't gotten to the craft room yet. The plan is to leave on Saturday if the weather doesn't hold until the beginning of next week. I think we can do it.

Tonight, in preparation of spending February on Mustang Island in Texas, we watched Soul Surfer. The night off gave us a bit of a recharge!

- Courtney

Job Updates

Everybody wonders what we are going to do in Alaska for work.  We're going to Skagway. It's on the northern end of the inside passage. It is also one of the only cities accessible by road. That's how we're going.

The Klondike Gold Dredge has hired us. We will work in a variety of jobs; Gold Dredge tour guide, jewelry store clerk, 40 degree below room tour guide, as well as other jobs.  We change our job each 2 hours everyday. So, we won't get bored working about 40 hours a week.  Look up Klondike Gold Dredge and you'll get a good idea of what it is.  It's a smaller Silver Dollar City.

Be sure and look here, we'll be putting things in most days. Our shove off day is Jan 26. We're off to Port Aransas, TX, for a month. It'll be good to go back home for a while.

Jim

Packing: Day 2

We were beginning to wonder how we were going to make everything fit. But, aside from the furniture it's working out so far. We brought two more loads to the unit today. While trying to bring the hutch you can see in the left corner of the unit Courtney's hand got smashed by a swinging door. Instead of Courtney getting hurt, then hutch did. One of the doors fell off the hutch. During the majority of the packing Courtney utilized her balancing skills by standing on the top of the park bench.

Jim is building the shelving units.

The poor trash collectors have had large loads from us in the last few weeks. Our smallest load was 7 bags and two boxes.

Courtney

Packing: Day 1

The packing has begun in earnest. In the last two days we brought two trailer loads and three car loads to the auction barn, and delivered three car loads to the storage unit. We are trying to fit a three bedroom house into a 10x20 storage unit. But, luckily, we have a secret weapon. Courtney, our daughter and youngest child, is our storage organizer. She packs tightly.
She sees packing as a life sized version of a Tetris game. However she does it, we're hoping it works. 
Yesterday, Jim and Sandy's room was full of furniture, and now it's very sparse thanks to our friends. Yesterday, the garage was wall to wall storage, and now it echoes. Who knew you could put a car in there. 
At the end of day we fed our helpers to pizza. Even the mailman got a slice.

Sandy