What a Difference a Move Makes

The great move was on June 30th. By 2:00 pm, everything had been moved and the U-Haul returned. I took the girls for a long walk since they had been cooped up during the move and then cracked a bottle of champagne to toast my good fortune.

The first order of business was to get the bedroom settled. I had told the professionals not to put the mattress on the box springs as I had a new dust ruffle I wanted to put down first. Somehow I missed the fact that my king size mattress has a definite up side and down side. They had placed it with the upside facing out so I couldn't just let it fall onto the box springs. After a lot, and I do mean a LOT of cussing and swearing I got the mattress to where I could just let it fall onto the box springs and new dust ruffle.

Once I had the bed made I worked on getting the nightstands and dresser where I wanted it and unpacked all my clothes. This is how the bedroom looked once I made the bed on Sunday morning. I'm off to a good start.This was at 7:00 a.m.

Right after I took the bedroom photo I walked through the condo. This was my living room at the same time.

And the dining room.

Finally, the guest room. I tried to get my helpers to put all the boxes in the rooms they were marked for but, as usual, everything got dumped anywhere there was room.

I worked for 13-1/2 hours that day. Stopping only to walk the girls or grab a forkful of cold, leftover Chinese food. This was the dining room by the end of the day and my energy.

The living room was much better. I have a friend who's going to be moving soon so I broke down all my boxes and she picked them up. Check out the pile on the sofa, and there were more behind the sofa. We completely filled her PT Cruiser with all the boxes.

Even the guest room was acceptable.

On Monday, July 2nd I had to go to work but I left early so I could get my internet connected. I spent the afternoon hanging art. By the afternoon of the 8th I was completely and I do mean completely unpacked and all the art and curtains were up except for the curtains in the guest room. I held off on taking the "finished" photos, waiting for my dining room table to arrive, hence the late date on the photos.

The living room as you walk in the front door.

Standing at the TV cabinet looking towards the kitchen. The door to the left of the sideboard is the laundry room. I need to save up for a stacking washer and dryer to fit in there.

The lanai is small but I do have locking storage and since its a condo and not an apartment I am allowed to have a real grill. I got a nice gas one that has folding side shelves so it doesn't take up much room. I bought a couple of nice flowering hanging plants. I back up to a large natural area owned by the local power company and since there is a small tributary that runs through it there will not be anything built back there.

From the dining room looking into the kitchen and down the hall to the master. I have granite counter tops throughout, stainless steel front appliances and brushed nickle faucets and door knobs.

The master with the art up and the curtains hung.

The guest room. I want to eventually get a real bed, one that my son will fit in when he comes to visit.

A better shot of one of the hanging baskets.

My new dining room table finally arrived from Rooms to Go. Its a counter height with a leaf. I wanted something smaller but smaller meant only two chairs and that was not acceptable.I like that the top compliments the antique sideboard.

Eventually the weather will get cooler and the girls and I can enjoy the outside.

This place is an entire world apart from the last place. Maintenance gets done the very same day I call and put in a maintenance request, assuming I've locked the girls up. Its gated so there are no rotten people sticking all those flyers in your door. We have a pool and a Jacuzzi plus a weight room. Everyone has been very friendly and the rules are adhered to since leasing lives on site, plus a Jacksonville Sheriff's Officer. Not a single crime has been reported to the Sheriff's office yet this year and not a single eviction has been filed. At the last place evictions were being filed at the rate of one a week.

This move was well worth all the trouble and sweat.