Map of Ohio (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
… but you can’t take the girl out of Ohio.
That’s right, folks. After nearly two-and-a-half wonderful years in Richmond, Virginia, my husband and I are returning to the Great State of Ohio—the land where we met and fell in love. The transition has already begun; John has started a terrific new job in the Cleveland/Akron area, and I’m managing operations down here until our townhouse sells and we find a new place to call home. Watch this space for exciting news about house-hunting! house-selling! packing! moving! driving across several states with a dog and a cat in tow! grappling with colder temperatures and honest-to-gosh winters with snow!
Do you have any great moving stories to share? Any great advice? (Any horror stories?) I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below, and you’ll be entered for a special drawing.
Talk to you soon!
The Midlife Second Wife ™ 
Yay!!! Richmond’s loss is our gain I can’t believe it’s been 2 and a half years already. Whew. Wishing you a smooth transition.
Thanks Alana! Hoping for the chance to visit Oberlin more often now.
Moving can be stressful .. but it can also be freeing – a great time to purge! A fun time to learn about new opportunities where you’re headed.
Our biggest move ever is chronicled here http://emjayandthem.com/2012/05/22/when-you-know-for-sure/ and .. without a doubt .. was the best move we ever made.
Good luck and …. start early on the organizing/tossing/packing. My experience? You have more to do than you think you do 🙂
MJ
Thanks for your comment, EmJay! I’ll definitely check out your post. I’m all too familiar with this process; it’s only 2.5 years since the last move! But you’re right…there’s something refreshing and invigorating about organizing and purging. Cheers!
Organization helps, and do not expect anything to go right so have alternatives. I moved 4 times in 5 years. Moved Aldona and myself to our house in Bay Village (moves 1 and 2), then the last 2 moves were 4 months apart.
Our house sold in 10 days and I needed to be out in 2 weeks (move 3) and had no where to go. Ended up staging a friend’s house in Berea. The house had not sold in 2 years and I expected to remain there for a while to catch my breath. During the packing, a helpful friend wanted to borrow a purse and felt foolish asking, yet I knew exactly where to find it. Then she asked for stamps and I had those, too. The day after that move I went on vacation.
Assuming I’d remain in Berea for as long as I wanted, surprise! move four occurred after 4 months and I needed to find someplace to live. Luckily found this great house in Lakewood.
Daphne, we’ll have to get together once we’re settled. Not yet sure where we’ll live, but we’re considering River, Shaker, and CleveHts. Your story is harrowing. All except the house-selling-in-10-days part. Hoping for something close to that for us!
Any of those old neighborhoods are lovely and I’d enjoy getting together, especially some house-hunting.
I’ll let you know the next time I’m in the OH!
My worst move . . .My older daughter was about 5 months old, younger daughter hadn’t been thought of yet. My husband and I decided to move from a one bedroom apartment to a two bedroom apartment in a building just four blocks away. We decided to move ourselves. How bad could it be? Let’s just say, when we moved out of that two bedroom a few years later we hired a moving company.
I remember moving, with my first husband, from our apartment to our home with the help of friends. When you’re young and haven’t had time to acquire lots of stuff, those moves are a breeze. Wouldn’t dream of it now! Thanks so much for sharing your story.
This is wonderful news! Although I’m sure Richmond is lovely, there’s no place like CLE. Sending positive thoughts your way during the hectic move and fingers crossed you get your home sold in a snap!
Thanks so much, PC! That’s incredibly kind of you. I’m feeling welcomed back already!
How exciting! My only advice is to accept that it may take you longer to adjust to the move than you think is reasonable. I love moving – beforehand. Afterwards, the sense of loss sets in, even when it’s a good move. It’s always hard to leave friends and familiarity behind.
You’re so right, Ginger. I’ve made so many wonderful friends in Richmond; the good news is, some have already promised to visit us in Ohio. I went through the same separation pangs when I moved from Oberlin in 2010; having family and friends in Northeast Ohio will surely take the sting out of leaving a great city. But then, we’re going back to a great city, so it’s a win-win! Cleveland’s a wonderful place, and I look forward to telling readers about its many assets and attractions.
Having just done this — I do not envy you! You will have stories to share I’m sure. For me — there were funny and sad episodes, like on moving day having to trap the cat in the bathroom so she wouldn’t escape with all the doors open and finding her hours later in the tub, soaking wet as she huddled under a dripping faucet. Why? Who knows, but she was pathetic. Not a thing was broken in the move — nice people and so helpful — if you need a recommendation on a mover — I’d suggest Berea Moving and Storage. Tell them I sent you! Oh — and I’m still looking for stuff a year later! Cheers, Susan
So sad about your cat! Our cat was furious when she realized we were leaving her beloved home. She cried for three hours in the car en route to Richmond. For some reason, playing the Broadway cast album of West Side Story calmed her down. Go figure.
We have no say in our movers; my husband’s company is arranging all of that with the relocation company. So my figures will be crossed and my most precious valuables will be going with me in the car. With the cat. And the Broadway cast album of West Side Story.