I'm moving cross country, any tips?

by StinkyPantz 20 Replies latest jw friends

  • StinkyPantz
    StinkyPantz

    The trip begins in Kansas and ends in Florida. It's all going down in June. I'm really anxious and scared because I've never done anything like this before. Btw, the cat is moving with us.

    -I already have our road trip planned and the motels where we will be staying along our route.

    -I know what trailor we will be using to move our stuff.

    -I know what apartment complex we will be residing in.

    I guess what I'd like to know are little things that you discovered while traveling that people might forget or take for granted.

  • pr_capone
    pr_capone

    Get plenty of rest the night before you start driving down.

    Make sure you have some music or something to help keep your mind focused.

    If you are beginning to feel tired but still have some road to travel before your next stop, roll down the window and get some fresh air.

    Stop every 3 hours or so and just take a 5 minute walk... keeps your circulation good and keeps you fresh.

    Keep snacks with you, driving is very tiring.

    Thats about all I got!

    Kansas District Overbeer

  • Valis
    Valis

    The obvious....

    a case of bottled water

    a good first aid kit

    become a AAA member

    Courtesy Patrol numbers for the states you are passing through...they are the ones that will come and stop and help if you call them...I know Texas Dept of Transpo does a good job of this..

    Best of luck SP!

    Sincerely,

    District Overbeer

  • Robdar
    Robdar

    Hi Stinky,

    I had no idea that you lived in Kansas. We are neighbors. And now you are moving.

    Try to have a moving sale before you move. Get rid of everything that you haven't used in a year. You will be glad you did when it comes time to packing and then unpacking your stuff.

    George Carlin - A place for my stuff

    Actually this is just a place for my stuff, ya know? That's all, a little place for my stuff. That's all I want, that's all you need in life, is a little place for your stuff, ya know? I can see it on your table, everybody's got a little place for their stuff. This is my stuff, that's your stuff, that'll be his stuff over there.

    That's all you need in life, a little place for your stuff. That's all your house is: a place to keep your stuff. If you didn't have so much stuff, you wouldn't need a house. You could just walk around all the time. A house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it. You can see that when you're taking off in an airplane. You look down, you see everybody's got a little pile of stuff. All the little piles of stuff.

    And when you leave your house, you gotta lock it up. Wouldn't want somebody to come by and take some of your stuff. They always take the good stuff. They never bother with that crap you're saving. All they want is the shiny stuff. That's what your house is, a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get...more stuff! Sometimes you gotta move, gotta get a bigger house. Why? No room for your stuff anymore.

    Did you ever notice when you go to somebody else's house, you never quite feel a hundred percent at home? You know why? No room for your stuff. Somebody else's stuff is all over the goddamn place! And if you stay overnight, unexpectedly, they give you a little bedroom to sleep in. Bedroom they haven't used in about eleven years. Someone died in it, eleven years ago. And they haven't moved any of his stuff! Right next to the bed there's usually a dresser or a bureau of some kind, and there's NO ROOM for your stuff on it. Somebody else's s--- is on the dresser. Have you noticed that their stuff is s--- and your s--- is stuff? God! And you say, "Get that s--- offa there and let me put my stuff down!"

    Sometimes you leave your house to go on vacation. And you gotta take some of your stuff with you. Gotta take about two big suitcases full of stuff, when you go on vacation. You gotta take a smaller version of your house. It's the second version of your stuff. And you're gonna fly all the way to Honolulu. Gonna go across the continent, across half an ocean to Honolulu. You get down to the hotel room in Honolulu and you open up your suitcase and you put away all your stuff. "Here's a place here, put a little bit of stuff there, put some stuff here, put some stuff--you put your stuff there, I'll put some stuff--here's another place for stuff, look at this, I'll put some stuff here..." And even though you're far away from home, you start to get used to it, you start to feel okay, because after all, you do have some of your stuff with you.

    That's when your friend calls up from Maui, and says, "Hey, why don'tchya come over to Maui for the weekend and spend a couple of nights over here." Oh, no! Now what do I pack? Right, you've gotta pack an even SMALLER version of your stuff. The third version of your house. Just enough stuff to take to Maui for a coupla days. You get over to Maui--I mean you're really getting extended now, when you think about it. You got stuff ALL the way back on the mainland, you got stuff on another island, you got stuff on this island. I mean, supply lines are getting longer and harder to maintain.

    You get over to your friend's house on Maui and he gives you a little place to sleep, a little bed right next to his windowsill or something. You put some of your stuff up there. You put your stuff up there. You got your Visine, you got your nail clippers, and you put everything up. It takes about an hour and a half, but after a while you finally feel okay, say, "All right, I got my nail clippers, I must be okay." That's when your friend says, "Aaaaay, I think tonight we'll go over the other side of the island, visit a pal of mine and maybe stay over." Aww, no. NOW what do you pack? Right--you gotta pack an even SMALLER version of your stuff. The fourth version of your house. Only the stuff you know you're gonna need. Money, keys, comb, wallet, lighter, hanky, pen, smokes, rubber and change. Well, only the stuff you HOPE you're gonna need.

    © April 2000 George Carlin from "Braindroppings"

  • SheilaM
    SheilaM

    Stinky: Thunder and I always drive straight through so you should just have to stop one night from Kansas depending on how far South your going. I know the route well and I would say that make sure the kitty is driven around alot in the kennel before the trip just so he/she is use to the traveling and you can deduce urp status of said cat.

    Park close to your room with the trailer facing your door make sure you get a hotel on the ground level that way you can watch the truck. (I have seen them stolen out of parking lots)

    Pack the truck tight so that it doesn't shift and make sure they give you a GOOD truck with a comfortable seat or a good trailer.

    In Florida depending where your going make sure you KNOW where your going don't take your truck with belongings into the wrong area.

    Depending on where your moving I think you'll love Florida Thunder and I are tossing around being snowbirds halg time here in Missouri half time in Key West. If you need to know about any of the areas Sloan lives there Joy and I know about alot of the areas.

  • Celia
    Celia

    Dont' lose your cat during one of your stops Poor kitty !

  • Valis
    Valis

    a good heavy maglite flashlite...two is preferable

    flares

    several cans of fix a flat

    a can of mace

    Sincerely,

    District Overbeer

  • Francois
    Francois

    My best advice is don't do it yourself. Pack it and then let someone else put it on a truck and move it. Failing that:

    Pack the boxes onto the truck first. Pack them tightly, THEN pack everything else. Ask advice at the U-Haul or where ever. They can help you get the right sized truck.

    Bend your knees when picking up ANYthing, and lift with your legs, not your back.

    The animals will require more water than you do. Offer them water twice as often as you are thirsty.

    If it were me, I'd back the truck up to a pole or column so that the loading doors couldn't be opened (I'd have them locked, too). Then I would remove the rotor from the distributor and keep it in the room (your husband will know). Failing that, I'd remove half the spark plug wires and keep them in the room. That's your whole life you've got in that truck.

    Drive in the right-hand lane. Stay there. Don't get in the left lane(s) for any reason but an emergency.

    It doesn't cost anything significant to stop when you get tired, check into a motel and go to sleep. Stop every 8 hours and sleep. Are you trying to set a record getting to Florida? Don't be a hero. Stop and rest. Who do you expect me to argue with if you get hurt?

    Do not pack any lighter fluid, lamp oil, matches, matchlight charcoal or anything else flammable. Throw it away. Drain the gas from the lawn mower if you have one. Do not transport propane tanks.

    If I remember anything else, I'll post again.

    Don't speed. Take your time.

    Be Safe, Be Careful - Peace & Light,
    francois

  • Francois
    Francois

    OH YEAH. IF you're going to Miami, make DAMNED certain you know where to get off I-95. Getting off at the wrong exit could mean your life. It has meant the lives of others already. That's good advice no matter what city you're going to (Well, maybe not St. Petersburg. The old geezers there are too weak to rob you blind.)

    francois

  • JH
    JH
    Btw, the cat is moving with us.

    Does your cat like riding in the car?

    Each time I bring my cat in the car, she pees in the car because she is scared. EACH TIME !!! And she miews continuously.

    I think my cat would have a heart attack if she had to ride 1000 miles like you will be doing.

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