Packin' Up & Moving On

[Stomper]

The time has come to take the next step in life so we will be packin' up and movin' on from Oregon to Arizona in the next few months, looking for a new lifestyle and a new adventure. There is supposed to be a fifth wheel, some travels, some Snowbird like migrations and the like soon.

I'm sure there will be surprises along the way but if I try and plan this change to the utmost detail I'll never make the move and that just won't do.

Long winded and obtuse me decided to chronicle this new adventure and share it with all here. What a lucky bunch you are.

But what happened that led me (us) to such a decision?

It is funny how things start to pile up on you after years of stability. In our case, it all starts with a big change that occurred a couple of years ago. I retired after 37 years with the power company in late 2017. I took some time off but was lured back into the workforce by the offer of a six-figure salary assisting a high-tech company with a $3.5B construction and commissioning project. Now that the project has ended I've decided a simpler life in a sunnier climate will suit me just fine.

Working in today's corporation is no fun anymore. Maybe that's a function of my becoming old and cranky. I don't know if that's it or not but I do know I found myself with little patience and even less desire to continue to make my way through today's corporate culture. I will not be going back to work as I don't need to and I certainly don't want to.

Broaching the subject with the better half was intimidating. But she surprised me. She got on board quickly and began talking about all the exploring and traveling we could do. Of course, we'll be back in the Pacific Northwest most summers with our tiny house in tow visiting friends and familywith some exploring thrown in which we never seemed to have time for while working for a living.

So once the decision was made, the downsizing began. Do you have any idea how much stuff you can accumulate in 30 some short years??? Its mind boggling, a bit intimidating and it is difficult to figure out where to start.

So we approached the problem by taking it one room at a time. I can assure you that doing it in a helter-skelter fashion, flitting from one room to another without completely dealing with the room you are in, is NOT the way to work this.

I am not a pack rat but I am married to one. Our start to the sorting was filled with comments like, "I need to keep that. I might need it one day." "Oh no, we can't sell that. It's unique." "Put that in the keep pile. I got it from my Great Aunt when I was 6 years old and I might need it one day." See the pattern here?

Most of the stuff has been in the same boxes it was packed in when we moved to Oregon from Wyoming over 25 years ago. Well, if we aren't using it maybe someone else can. It's sort of a movin' on process I hadn't really considered until it was time to get on with it.

Finally, the pack rat got the message, saw the necessity and became ruthless when making her decisions. Things are moving along pretty quickly now. I had my own struggles with some of my possessions but applying the very same logic helped me move past that.

Selling the SRT8 Chrysler still stings a bit, though. But we'll have no place to keep it and storing it outside in the Arizona summers would have been a disservice to an otherwise excellent car. So it now resides with new owners.

Bye Bye, Chrysler...

And don't get me started on the tool boxes, firearms, workbenches and assorted man stuff. More tough decisions on in my future.

Of course, the audio systems will remain intact and they will move to our new location. You see, one of my new abode selection criteria is to have the room necessary for those systems and that criterial is not negotiable. Oh, and most of my firearms and accessories will accompany us to the new abode. The Mrs. has her own criteria so having a checklist for home selection is supremely important to both of us.

But the sorting and decision phase is moving forward and we'll focus on that for now.

So, there will be more to share later. All we ask is that you take pity upon our poor souls.

Anyone else pick up on the Jolly Roger skull & cross bones on the grill?

 

[SA Shooter]

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions.

The sorting process continues and I'd say we are about 75% done with that.

We've lined up realtors in Flagstaff, Prescott and Phoenix with a request to select 3 or 4 properties in their respective areas that meet our requirements and price range.

We won't be spending all our time there, especially the summers, and will be towing our tiny house behind us back to the PNW, Alaska, the Rocky Mountain/Intermountain states etc...returning to AZ in the fall. Just gotta get done here, list and sell the place and get moved!

@Stomper you like those little adornments, do ya?

 

[bbbass]

Working in today's corporation is no fun anymore. Maybe that's a function of my becoming old and cranky. I don't know if that's it or not but I do know I found myself with little patience and even less desire to continue to make my way through today's corporate culture. I will not be going back to work as I don't need to and I certainly don't want to.

^^^ This... We do get old and cranky but it's also a fact that we have been around enough to know better. The bureaucraps and muddle mgrs can manipulate and abuse the younger generations, but older folks typically won't tolerate it... and that's why we get pushed out.

The white mountains call to me.

I spent most of one winter in the LTVA near Quartzsite, then in Feb I towed the 36' fifth to Pinetop-Lakeside AZ and stayed in the native owned RV park, Hon-Dah, just across the street from the native casino. I worked a bit further south in Whiteriver at the native owned mill. We were told often not to wander off because the Apaches and such really didn't like the white man and that most of them carried knives that they were not afraid to use.

My old horsing stick salmon poles are useless and will get me laughed off any dock around, better to donate them if they don't sell and take the tax write off. The idea I might need it someday is ludicrous. I have hopefully about 23 or so years left on this earth. My need for various items reduces every passing year.

I kept a few salmon poles just in case. Same with steelhead poles. Same with bass rods. Same with the Koke rod I bought and never got to use. The only poles I'll be likely to use are the trout rods. Kids and grandkids don't want any of it. Gave away my best steelhead rods, the ones I custom built and had expensive reels mounted. Gave away my golf clubs. Gave away some firearms. I also gave away or sold a bunch of bass lures and plastics. But still have a tackle box full of bass lures, crappie jigs, and one full of steelhead gear. I've looked at all that gear for 15yrs and just can't do it. Might go on a trip someday. My treasures, my precious. <sigh>

 

[Zathras]

Good luck. I like AZ, but it's just too hot for me. It's good that you're planning to (and able to) get away during the hotter times. As someone who has become 'semi-retired' after what sounds like similar circumstances with work life, I understand. I couldn't/wouldn't tolerate the changes that hit the workplace, so I had to make some tough choices. It has required sacrifices due to less money, but they are worth making if you can get closer to your goals. My family has enjoyed our move to Idaho for a better life, and I hope you find what you seek down south. Thanks for sharing your story.

 

[Alexx1401]

But the sorting and decision phase is moving forward and we'll focus on that for now.

So, there will be more to share later. All we ask is that you take pity upon our poor souls.

I feel for you here. Wife and I moved last year. Even local was a chore. When I met her I had been single a long time. I could put everything I owned in the vehicle. Had lived that way a long time. She had a 2 car garage that was 3/4 full of boxes from her move here years before. After over 20 years at our place I was shocked at what I had built up. Had a month to thin stuff. She was fighting a lot first couple weeks. I gave away a LOT of stuff before the move. We sill moved some boxes that had not been opened in over 25 years of her stuff.
Got to give her credit that she has now finally gone through a lot of those old boxes and given away or tossed a lot more stuff. It's like the "stuff" breeds when you aren't looking

 

[leadcounsel]

So I finally got internet and computer set up and can type a bit more. I literally just went through this downsizing and interstate move process. It took the help of several friends to accomplish. I did it in about 4 months.
Sold a lot of stuff at 10-50 cents on the dollar.
* One big garage sale.
* Lots of sale ads online using several sources.
Traded lots of stuff for stuff I needed/wanted or services.
Gave away lots of stuff.

I still had about 12,000 lbs moved professionally, and a completely full 26' box rental truck. I ran out of time to continue sorting and downsizing, so I know I have a few hundred pounds of stuff I intended on getting rid of but just ran out of time to give away, sort, or sell off. As it was, I was so far behind moving I left a day later than planned, and even on the day of the move, I left hours later than planned.

It took me a couple of solid months of work to finish home improvements and get my house on the market to sell. The great news is that in the sellers market of Tacoma, it was sold under contract within days at full price plus concessions.

Looking back it seems like an impossible task. I know it felt impossible at the time. I was working 12-16 hour days entirely on the home and move process, under incredible stress, for months. I had a lot of help from friends. I couldn't have done it alone. I was just focusing on a goal on the horizon, late October. I'm finally here. And I'm finally able to breath a sigh of relief in that it's done. Cashed out and am in a much better spot by every metric; economics, freedom, gun rights, hobbies, population density, etc.

I still have a lot to do, unpacking, some downsizing, looking for a permanent location. And run my business.

Looking back exactly 21 years ago, I made a cross country move and everything I owned fit in or on top of my sport coupe car. I had the backseat full, a car top carrier, and full trunk with a bike rack. And a cute brunette in the passenger seat. Now, two decades later, a full moving truck, a professional moving company, and a buddy to drive my follow on vehicle with my 2 dogs... pricetag on the move was probably north of $20,000 (95% paid for by post military move benefit).

You can do it OP, just focus on a goal on the horizon. Where there is a will there is a way. Take a small bite out of the projects every day.

 

[SA Shooter]

Well, we are getting very close. We listed the house on 1/2/20 and by the evening of 1/5/20 we accepted an offer. That's when the clock started.

Since then a LOT has been accomplished - I won't bother you with the mundane details but it has kept us busy - and we are only a bit more than a week away from packin' up the house and hittin' the road.

We should close on our new residence in Apache Junction on or about 2/20/2020.

 

[Ura-Ki]

Well, we are getting very close. We listed the house on 1/2/20 and by the evening of 1/5/20 we accepted an offer. That's when the clock started.

Since then a LOT has been accomplished - I won't bother you with the mundane details but it has kept us busy - and we are only a bit more than a week away from packin' up the house and hittin' the road.

We should close on our new residence in Apache Junction on or about 2/20/2020.

Congrats, great news! Good luck in your adventures south, and keep us in the loop!

 

[AirResq]

Congratulations! My wife and I are just settling in here. We looked at a few houses down in Apache Junction, but it was a little far from work. You'll love the view of the Superstition Mountains. We settled on a house between I-17 and Cave Creek. The good homes are going in 2-3 days. We were fortunate to buy this one with no bidding war.

 

[leadcounsel]

Big congrats. When you get there get active to keep it a pro-gun state! Don't get complacent.

 

[Unicykle]

I plan on moving to arizona my self at the end of this summer, im just starting to down size and it wouldnt be so hard but when my dad died i cleared out his 10x30 storage unit into my house so im planning a big garage sale this summer and donating the rest. I snowbirded in lake havasu for a few winters about 8 years ago and thats where i plan to start again.

 

[DB is Here]

Congrats on the new journey...

 

[GWS]

Good luck on your new life.
All the best.

 

[Oregonhunter5]

Can't agree more with the corporate comments. Bunch of jacked up people. Full on government feel. I'm gonna try to diversify our income somehow. I cant figure out how yet though. I'm not speaking of investments. We do that. I'm trying to figure how to start some type of second income. Company. Invent a product. Or buy into a laundry mate of maybe a machine shop. Maybe a machine shop that also does 3D printing. Somehow I need to run from the corporate world and fast!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyone have any ideas to throw me??

 

[11Charlie]

Hell YA!!! I am right behind ya brother thinking at the latest we will be headed to AZ by end of year!!

 

[DB is Here]

Hell YA!!! I am right behind ya brother thinking at the latest we will be headed to AZ by end of year!!

I'll help you drink your beer, no sense in packing it...

 

[11Charlie]

I'll help you drink your beer, no sense in packing it...

Thats fine I will leave you the sh!t I don't like and take the rest on the road trip!!!

 

[DB is Here]

Thats fine I will leave you the sh!t I don't like and take the rest on the road trip!!!

I think we need to throw you a freedom party this summer, your house, and your beer though...

 

[11Charlie]

I think we need to throw you a freedom party this summer, your house, and your beer though...

Thats fine just keep in mind I wasn't inviting you!!!

 

[Member 34319]

Congratulations @SA Shooter

Glad to have met you that one day a few years ago, and getting to admire the Chrysler! Hope all is well and I will enjoy seeing you post here when and if you do in regards to this new journey in your life!

I hope that my wife and I will be able to make a similar journey later in life!

Thank you for sharing the beginning of this journey with us!



PS, need a good safe home for any of that gun stuff, hit me up!