Getting Settled, Sort of…the 5 phases of moving

My moving realities have shuffled through most of the phases and come back around. I don’t doubt they will continue to rotate, playing games with my emotions. Getting settled isn’t that easy…

I’m not sure that anyone has noticed I haven’t written a post in quite awhile – the thing I’ve learned about putting my thoughts out there is that I must be myself…real…and feel good about it. That’s why I’ve hesitated over the last several weeks…starting posts and then abandoning them…how does one fake it? Anyhow, I’ve decided not to.

The reality of this whole thing…selling, buying, moving, running a business – trying to get it right – fumbling – carrying on and on and on – has been challenging.

Bob has appeared to make the transition effortlessly. He actually amazes me everyday. From minor plumbing issues to water pressure pipe problems – grill fixes, electrical concerns, lighting upgrades, painting projects that never end – what I’m saying is, there is something everyday – always new, but he always steps up…no complaints, just ready for what comes up. I’m actually somewhat envious of his flexible attitude. He can adjust to any situation.

My realities…a teenage daughter who is highly opinionated, has no desire to be told what to do and not unlike me at her age, has the idea that the world just might revolve around her. She’s learning though, kids are resilient. I’m really very proud of the effort she’s making. Now – if someone has a magic potion for abolishing sassy behavior…

Back to the realities of making a move that’s extremely life changing. The phases I’ve discovered…

Getting Settled, the 5 phases of moving

Phase 1

Excitement…of the possibilities, the unknown, the adventure. This is where I was while writing during our initial moving process. See part 1, part 2 and 3. We were so enamored by the new changes.

Phase 2

Sadness…for what I left behind. I’ve actually cried many times. Let’s get real. We left our first home we bought together, the thing that was a house and now our home was suddenly not ours anymore. This was, and still is, very difficult for me. Yes, I try to put things into perspective and am reminded everyday of the amazing place in which we now live.

Phase 3

That still does not make it any easier, for now I’m on to phase 3 which is anger – Sounds harsh right? But if I’m really going to be honest, I am mad sometimes – this is getting better now, so let me explain.

This house that I left behind was finally complete. Our master bathroom, basement, gardens…just to name a few, but in reality there wasn’t a speck of that house we didn’t touch to make it ours – a piece of ourselves. We moved so quickly (or it felt that way at least) that I couldn’t possibly write a post to cover it all.

Phase 4

Jealousy…Yikes, another ugly one. Let me explain this too. I’m honored to say I’ve met some amazing, talented, kind women in this blogging community. I scroll through and like their Instagram images, retweet their Twitter posted projects, drool over the creative ways they decorate their homes, all the while wishing I had my old home to share. In the meantime, I’ve joined some of these lovely blogger ladies for an Instagram decor challenge and let me say this is truly a challenge for me. Every week brings a new theme, but I struggle with where and how to photograph my shelf or mantel post to make it look descent.

The reality is this – the house I live in now does not feel like my own. Things are everywhere and I have yet to organize in a way that makes me comfortable.

Here’s proof…and this isn’t even a speck of it…you should see the stuff in storage that we need to move over to the house.

Phase 5

This brings me to phase 5: The “Short Circuit”: when it all becomes so overwhelming that I simply shut down.This is the worst phase of all. I have so many ideas, things I’d like to accomplish every short weekend I have off from work, the tall orders of business that plague my mind.

I envy my husband, in that his motivation is astounding – he never quits or feels like he needs a “lazy” day. From the moment he pours his first cup of coffee to the late hours of night, he is constant energy…and I don’t mean he “has” it…he IS it. It baffles me, really, but he has always been that way – if only I had an ounce of it…

So now I’m thinking as I write this, I must be coming back around to excitement, though I still struggle with the other phases in my moving realities. I have so many hopes and desires for this blog, for our home, for our business, for the experience our guests will have when they visit.

Sometimes I just need to say it…Stop being so hard on yourself. This house will become your home, you will get organized, renovate and redecorate, the resort website will eventually get done and your teenager can’t possibly dislike you forever.

Enjoy the differences of everyday as it comes and embrace your emotions – they make you who you are, and if you don’t get to that project/post/task/cleaning/paperwork today…it will be there tomorrow – I promise, it will, because you are the only one that will do it…no really…no one else will do it. *This is a half truth – Kylee is getting better at the standards I have for cabin cleaning and Bob does more with paperwork than I ever thought possible.

With all of that laid out there, I actually have a story to share.

**Ok, short side note before my story: I’m sitting on our deck watching the water as I write, the birds and the bugs, warm sun and happy chirping sounds – when someone pulls into the boat access next door – that’s where the happy sounds stop and are replaced with guttural dry heaves. Really?! and it keeps going – Gross! Honestly, I thought I could escape that when I wasn’t at work being a nurse. Seriously – I don’t know if it was a late night for them or the smell of the outhouse, but I think they need meds…ok they left now…Geez!

Back to my story. Some may remember a post I did a bit ago on how to keep geese off your lawn – well now it’s keeping the seagulls from pooping all over your boats and dock.

Bob’s scouring of Internet suggestions first landed him on the legendary owls. If any of you are unfamiliar with this, it’s foam owls that creepily sit, perched on a post and are, somehow, supposed to scare the gulls off. Umm – no…actually I think they were trying to make friends and when the owls didn’t respond they crapped all over the place just to show them who’s boss.

Search #2 seemed a little more promising. Orange caution tape streamers waved in the wind from each of our 16 dock posts. Bob thought for sure this was it…until we had a whole patio of on-lookers and that pesky seagull landed right on a post, not minding the flapping orange streamers trailing his tail.

And the winner is…these things…

Whatever they’re called – we call them rockets. Anyway I haven’t seen a gull in days, I’ll keep you posted.

We contemplated painting them. Honestly I’m not sure what to think of them aesthetically speaking. But the suggestion of painting them red – like the docks – left me with red rockets…Umm…no! If you read this and are not sure of what that is, take this as a warning before you consider a google-image. I haven’t actually googled it, but I can only imagine.

Next we thought, green, to match the patio chairs and cabin roofs, but still I don’t know – I’d say it would be better than red for sure! For now, we leave them be – looking all white and pristine like they belong on a million dollar yacht dock instead of a rustic pole for row boats. At least they have a million dollar view, right?

Sorry about my lack of pictures in this post. I just wasn’t feeling it. Another discovery…it’s ok if it’s not perfect – who came up with those rules anyway?

As always I appreciate your readership and feedback. If you’d like to make sure you never miss a post (I’ll try not to make it so far between next time) subscribe below using your email. I will never share, rent or sell it. Promise!


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