The Last Move

I spent a great deal of my youth moving from house to house, city to city and life to life,  with my family.  Lets see, there was Statesboro Drive, Lakeshore Drive, Jackson Oaks Drive, Woods Lane (finally a freaking lane for a change) and Hacienday Way.  If you count college there was also Mosher Circle, Olympia Way, Park Place and Pintail Lane. Yes at the age of fourteen for example, when everyone has established friends and believes they are “at the top of the school” starting over is a self-proclaimed nightmare.  A nightmare that always slowly settles down as the drama we concocted is blended into new friends, activities and of course, a new home.

Home – the boxlike structure you shelter yourself from the elements in.  The place that gives you comfort and safety where you stash your belongings and prized possessions.  The walls that hear your secrets and contain your memories for the years that you reside there.

For those of you who lived in the same house for your entire childhood, and perhaps your parents even still live there, a house is something different to you than to me most likely.  We always loved our homes…individual things that made them each unique (huge backyard, pool and great view, own bathrooms, etc) but we didn’t get attached to them in the manner that someone who has always been in the same place does.  We always knew when moving into one home and loving it, that soon enough, there would be a new one.  We were attached to the items that would go with us and each other, not the address.  As an adult it has made the concept of living in various locations and/or having to move a much easier thing to think about which has definitely increased my ability to be flexible in that manner.  Now even more so than in years past I am grateful for my friends that are spread throughout the country because what is better than a weekend trip away from home?

For two years now, we have been waiting for this move, a big one.  The house has sold and the need to pack has begun as the move itself is creeping closer ,demanding that plans be outlined and decisions made.  Stop gasping and already and put down the phone, it isn’t my house that sold it is my Dad’s.  Not just myDad’s really because at one point I would have said it is my parent’s home in Florida.  The last walled structure that my mom magically transformed into a cozy, comfortable home yet again.  That was her job as Dad took on whichever new position he was working on daily and we always said that she did a magnificent job of it each time.

We have been waiting for this move because it really does need to happen, it is a good thing and we are all ready.  That being said, it does have a different feel to it than the other moves in our recent past.  For one thing, this will be the first time that we (not movers or Mom) are carefully packing away all of the boxes and moving most of the items into storage.  Fortunately in the past two years, we have already gone through many closets, secret boxes and stashed piles that she had heaped our lives into.  Organized chaos so to speak…she definitely knew where everything was if you asked her and why she decided to stick it in the back corner of the top, dark shelf in the unused spare room.  We however, were a little lost as we went hunting.  Bless him, I think Dad was the most lost as I have on a few occasions guided him to items in the house via phone from here.

To answer your questions before you ask…
- Yes, Dad is staying in Florida.  I know sometimes you seem shocked by that but I think being there is the best thing for him.  His Mom and brother are there with whom he has been spending some much needed time catching up with and doing a flood of projects.  I know he is grateful to have Mark,Susan and Grandma so close and I too because I know they are there for whenever he needs anything.
- Also…what would he do here? There he can ride his Harley along the ocean to Starbucks, boat to the Bahamas, watch the beautiful sunsets.  Exchanging that for traffic and smog? I don’t think so.
- No it hasn’t been decided on exactly where Dad will be moving yet.  He wisely doesn’t want to rush into anything and wants to weigh his options in Florida locations and living situations (boat vs. condo etc)
- No I am not upset he sold the house.  The house has actually been on the market for about two years now, but the market there has been terrible.  Like I said, the home doesn’t really mean much and in order for my Dad and all of us to be able to further accept everything leaving the home she died in, and the neighbors she knew is a must.  I mean how can Dad live his life with all of the neighbors who were friends with her “spying” so to speak.  Just isn’t a good situation.  So, yes, I am happy this is finally happening.

As I leave tomorrow to start this last move I am anxious to be done with it, and anxious to see what other hidden treasures we might uncover.  One more necessary goodbye and one more step in focusing on the home and family I am building as we leave the last home I will ever have lived with her in.  There is something unique in that this final step is also a key to taking a giant step forward for all of us, especially Dad.  Safe travels to myself and a relaxed move.