Smelling the barn door....

I am sure by now many of you are thinking "will you just move already!!!!" We have been so lucky to be able to really have the time we need to divest and move. The couple who bought our house, rented it back to us for the last several months while we each prepared to move. We just got back from taking another load to Charlottesville. So the next time we go will be the real deal!

Rural Wisconsin

Urban Charlottesville

We are on a blow-up bed and, as you can see from the top photo, have very little left in the house. We have sold almost everything as far as furniture goes. We have had two garage sales, a constant stream of Craig's List offerings, donated everywhere we can think of, and set stuff at the curb to see it disappear. Jon has sold his car, so for the first time in memorable history, we are a one-car household. For those of you who might not know, we are going from our two story home on a few acres in rural Wisconsin (with full basement and two garages) to a one-bedroom apartment and a storage unit just off the Main street pedestrian mall in Charlottesville VA!

Several years ago I told Jon that, while I really love Wisconsin and especially the Madison area, I didn't want to finish my enitre life having lived in a 20 mile radius! (disclaimer: I have traveled a lot both out of country and out of state... so not 'askeered' or unfamiliar with new and different!) I just am ready for a new adventure. Luckily I have a spouse who was ready to go too!

Jon and I have very different approaches to life. I posed the idea of throwing a dart at a map, and he spent a year researching tax and cost of living structures. Ultimately, I am very glad I have him around to make smart decisions about which I can get totally excited! We did decide that if we were going to do this, we wanted to have a truly different experience... not just a different house with same type of locale and all the same stuff in it.  And we decided that now that Son Younger is settled on his own here, we would move closer to Son Older and his family. We both like hearing little voices say "Grandpa" and "Grandma" a lot.

The entire process has us both feeling like recent grads heading out on a new adventure at college! With UVA right down the street, that may indeed be the case as we both like the idea of attending some classes. The farmers' market, a great gym,  the library, the outdoor ampitheater, and great shops are all within easy walking distance. Jon has found fishing spots, a quality local sourced butcher and a wine shop that has weekly wine and beer tastings. I have found a great fabric store and sewing workshop, an art collective, and a photo group.

We will be heading to Virginia July 1 via Colorado (that should really confuse the GPS lady!) so we can visit my sis and drop off some of our detritus - I mean good treasures - for her!  I will keep you posted on developments as they occur!