It was looking like Cathie had made it through the hardest part of the home buying process without a hitch. Using online research, she had chosen Maples at the Sonatas as her new community. Also online, she had decided on a Portico home, which was available here, and had communicated with our sales consultant, Carol.

In early April, Cathie flew in from Abilene, Texas, where she and her husband are currently living, to look at her Portico and complete the deal. Her lender assured her all was going well with the financing. She selected her options and finishes. She met a number of her new neighbors at our Spring Brunch. There wasn’t much left to do but go back to Texas and pack up for the move.

You would think that the actual move should have been the easiest part of the process. After all, Cathie had served in the military for 24 years and lived around the world, moving seven times in all. Compared to most of us, she is a professional mover. However—

At this point, I’m going to step back and let Cathie tell her story in her own words.

•••

As the saying goes, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.” In the Air Force, we say, Flexibility is the key to Air Power… I say, Flexibility is the key to Moving.

To begin with, my (soon to be ex-) husband and I decide we’re going to pack and move me ourselves. But we’re not as young as we once were, and packing becomes overwhelming, so we decide to hire movers to off-load when we get to Woodstock.

The original game plan

My walk through is scheduled for 29 May, and closing is on the 31st. I drive back home to Crystal Lake every year and usually take three days to get there. I plan on leaving the 25th so I can arrive on the 28th. The U-Haul is reserved, and movers are coordinated. Best laid plan, right?

Changes 1, 2, &3

My (soon to be ex-) husband wants to drive the 1,110 miles from Abilene to Woodstock in two days. I can’t do that on a good day, not to mention I will be traveling with three Shih Tzus… enough said. So I decide to leave a day ahead of him, and I think the whole thing is worked out, until he says, “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure the packers get everything.” Now, it’s an amicable divorce, but I am divorcing him for a reason. I need another plan.

How it turned out… sort of

I decide to fly back to Illinois by myself, close on the house, and return to Texas to finish packing out. I make reservations and re-coordinate with the movers. I’ll fly back from the closing on the 2nd, and we’ll pack out on the 4th. I’m homeward bound!

My husband is happy because he got one of the newer U-Hauls for the long drive. He’s also figured out that a fully loaded, 26-foot truck is not going to move all that fast. He decides we need to take three days after all.

The one thing that would make him happier, though, is having movers to load the truck too. So he coordinates with local movers. The only problem is they have to pack out on Monday, June 3, but it’s worth it to him to save his back. I’m not happy about flying back and packing out the next day, but I’m at a point where I just want to have a plan. It’s settled… almost.

U-Haul changes the reservations, but now he’s getting one of the older trucks so he’s not happy. Moral of the story: You can please some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time.

So that’s where I’m at, but I suppose there could be more changes to come. After all, flexibility is the key to a move.

To be continued.