An Adventure in Moving

We're home! We arrived Monday around 3:30pm. The weather was beautiful (it still is) - sunshine, leaves are beginning to bud on the trees, green grass, and spring is in the Pacific Northwest. It doesn't rain all of the time! I returned the trailer yesterday (Tuesday) and the U-Haul in Kirkland was very helpful and accomodating. There were no problems and they refunded some of my money. However, the manager initially wasn't going to refund my money for the wiring harness that U-Haul had installed when we first received the trailer. He said he couldn't sell it because it was in the wrong package. I told him in no uncertain terms that was U-Haul's problem, not mine, and it was a "little" impractical for me to return it to the U-Haul in Virginia. He backed off and became very accomodating. If you are renting from U-Haul I recommend you use the dealers in Kirkland, WA, and Newington, VA. They are very good in contrast to some of the other dealers!

We have been unpacking and I realize I should have listened to Leslie. She kept telling me to get rid of my stuff. If I had done that in Virginia life would be much easier in Washington! I think I'll be spending the next month or two going through all of my clothes, things, etc. and downsizing! I thought I brought back a few extra books. However, I brought back more than a "few extra" of everything - clothes, books, office supplies, CDs, DVDs, .....!!!!! The unpacking and downsizing is going to be a very long process for me!

We'll continue to unpack and start to get ready for the Memorial Service for Leslie's Mom which on on Saturday, March 27, on Whidbey Island. We have relatives coming from out of town including Leslie's cousin, Elizabeth, and daughters, Paola and Anna, from Rome and London. Our daughter, Kristen, is in London this week on business and returns Friday night. I hope her plane is on time. She flew British Airways which is on strike so returning should be exciting!

We drove 3,040.5 miles from our condo in Alexandria, VA, to our home in Woodinville, WA. I know we used a lot of fuel at $2.58 - $3.09 a gallon but I'll tally it up for the tax lady and write it off my taxes next year! We drove in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. We were next to several states and could have made side trips to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kansas, and Colorado. While I think it's really neat to say you have driven in a state Leslie is not impressed so we didn't do that! We drove through the capitol cities of West Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Idaho and started our trip next to our Nation's Capitol, Washington DC! Overall we had a nice trip and good adventure. The "adventure" will continue until everything is unpacked and I have downsized! Our return to the Pacific Northwest has a bittersweet ending. It is really nice to be in the Pacific Northwest and end our "bi-coastal" living. I will no longer feel like a guest in our Woodinville home where we have lived since 1983 and Leslie won't have to pack and repack every few months to fly to the East coast. We will be able to spend more time with our family and Pacific Northwest friends. It is sad, however, to be leaving really special friends in Virginia and Maryland. The past 5 1/2 years in Quantico began as "adventure". When I took the job I told Leslie to think of this as a "Big Adventure". However, the "Big Adventure" became more than that. We discovered the beauty, history, and charm of Virginia and the east coast. We enjoyed the opportunity to visit many states and cities in the east, see historical sites, and learn more about the history of our Nation. Most importantly however we discovered the beauty of the people. We met and made friends with some of the nicest, caring, and most generous people we will ever meet! We value these friendships and hope to keep them for many years to come. I began and ended my full time work career in Quantico and am very happy I was able to end it in such a great job. I had the opportunity to work with outstanding, professional Marines, soldiers, sailors, and contractors who are truly America's finest citizens. I am honored that I was part of a team who trained our operating forces and made a difference in the defense of our Nation. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. May each of you have "fair winds and following seas"! Semper Fidelis!