countdown to the big move

It's almost here again - the dreaded/wished-for 3 year mark. Military families will understand this sentiment - I start to feel itchy around 2 1/2 years after we've been somewhere. I'm a little nervous - it's a general sense of apprehension more than anything else.

This move is Eastward (let's keep it general...); for the first time, we have not been posted west of the Mississippi. We'll be almost as far from our families as one can be in the continental US, and our parents are aging. This move means a 5 hour (minimum) airplane ride back home to Seattle.

This move is causing a keen sense of loss to our girls. Last time we moved, they were clueless -- it was just a big adventure and meant new toys for the car ride (though they did feel sad about leaving their friends).

This move, Ingy Badingy will be starting first grade in the fall (we are considering public school this time rather than homeschooling - another source of apprehension for me).

This move, we own a home -- and we have to rent it out.

This move, we are renting a U-Haul for our nicest furniture -- we don't want to see a repeat of our last military move. The movers treated our (nice) stuff like garbage.

This move will mean separate vehicles for Mr. and Me. He will take charge of the U-Haul, while pulling one car, and I will drive the wagon with the girls -- with a movie player and large library of DVDs ready -- for my sanity's sake.

It gets harder every time, although I will not miss the heat, dust and desert creepy crawlers.

So, as of today, it's 63 days and counting. Off to clean another closet.