There is a great deal to plan for and think about when preparing to move a family across the country to a new state, a new home. Fortunately, my husband is a great, systematic planner. Left to me, I fear we would be doomed. I am starting this blog to process the change and celebrate each new discovery as we move from Colorado to Northfield, Minnesota.
We started talking about leaving our home of 13 years, in the Foothills of the Colorado Front Range, in November of 2015. Moving a our family: five humans -two adults and 3 boys (15, 12, and 10 years), a dog, a cat and more than a decade of accumulated belongings prompted months of thoughtful discussion and reflection. Six months down the road we have scrubbed and renovated our home, listed it and sold it. We packed a 20 x 10 storage locker with every non-essential we could extract and then meticulously packed all of the contents to take a first load to Northfield. Over the last weekend of April, we moved about two-thirds of our household collections to a new home we have rented in Northfield, Minnesota.
I've moved our household five times in the last 20 years. I still have a great deal to improve upon but below are some top suggestions gleaned from experience:
- Label boxes/bins with what is in the box and where in the new house it goes. Color coding is a great addition but when I had a newborn and a toddler, the color coding went out the window.
- Have a clearly defined action plan and stick to it as much as possible. Be prepared to be flexible and adjust but then also rewrite your action plan.
- Pack a box or bin with first-week essentials (paper products, disposable kitchen ware, a pot and fry pan, soap, towels, the basics). You can also pack a "hotel" bag for kids that includes changes of clothes, swim suits, toothbrushes, and something fun to read or do. Having a separate bag for taking into the hotel relieves the stress of lugging a "family" of suitcases into your room.
- Build a strong support network of family and friends. Just this past weekend I had to call several friends for help when a freak snowstorm made it impossible for my sister-in-law to take care of my kids, my pets and my home. Friends and neighbors offered help so I could make the drive out of town before the snow hit the mountains. My principal, at the school where I teach, took my dog for the weekend. When we arrived in Northfield, my brother and his wife were waiting to help us unload our truck. I feel blessed to have a network like that.
Finally, this first post needs to celebrate our new town! We are so excited to become residents of a vibrant community in Northfield. As I write through the next year, getting to know my new town, I will add insights about the charm and wonder of Northfield and make suggestions for how to transition into a new state or new town.
Top on the list for my family was to check out the lunch at the food co-op in Northfield. The selections were excellent and included several warming soups, a casserole and very friendly service. We will definitely be back to visit the Just Food Co-Op!
