In which we are moving...
Jun. 5th, 2007 07:03 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jesshartleyWell, the Viking is turning in his letter of resignation at HEC today, so I guess I can make the announcement public.
We're moving to Bisbee, Arizona!
The Viking will be the new Director of Technology/Chief Information Officer for Cochise County, in SE Arizona. He grew up in Bisbee, so this is very much a "local boy done good" kind of story, and he's very very excited about the opportunity there.
What this means for us as homeowners is that we've spent the last week and a half scrambling to prepare our house for sale in a market which is much less seller-friendly than it was when we bought it two years ago.
The end is in sight now. The list is about 3/4 finished and most of the stuff remaining is cleaning/decluttering, rather than painting/changing fixtures, etc. But we're waiting on a) the painter who is going to come touch up the bad spots and b) the carpet guys (We're having new carpet put in to replace the dusty rose stuff in the master bedroom and the stuff that was stained in what is now the Viking's office but was once a primary-colored playroom).
Most of what has been done has been "sweat equity" (long hours of hauling mulch, reseeding bare spots in the lawn, repainting, cleaning, switching out fixtures, decluttering, etc.) But we're also buying a new glass topped stove (The last of the appliances still remaining from the former owners), etc.
There's still more to do, but it's coming along. We could use a few more nice sunny days to help green up the reseeded spots on the lawn (think sunshine!)
What this means for me as a writer is that I've had to cancel all but one of my summer appearances this year. I'll be at Connecticon, as it both falls at a time we can work with (before we leave but after the house is on the market and thus all the work is done on it.) and we've worked out financial considerations for it. But PortConMaine, GenCon, Origins, USCC and Pi-Con will be Jess-less this year, much to my great, great sadness.
What this means for you? Well, if you're in the Pioneer Valley area and want to see us in person, contact us right away and we'll try to make arrangements. For the next few weeks, this will likely have to be "hey, wanna come help me haul boxes down to to the basement?" or "Come to our Yard Sale! Buy our stuff!" but after we get the house on the market (target date: 6/13) we should have a bit more flexibility. (Also, if you're in the Valley and have access to boxes (especially those awesome box and lid boxes that paper comes in) I'd love them. I'm running low.)
If you're in the Arizona area, this means "Say Hi, we're coming your way and know very few folks out there!"
Our tenative plan at this point is to get the house on the market next week, spend the next month trying to sell it and doing/seeing as many of the things in the NE that we haven't done/seen yet (NYC is high on the list), and round about the 25-26th of July, having a couple of PODS dropped off here, which will then be packed with all our stuff. After they come back to pick them up, the three of us will pile into our car and head for Arizona, driving cross country in a wacky adventure which will end at a little house we're renting in Bisbee until we can find a place to buy out there (notice how we aren't trying to buy a house at the same time we're selling ours? We did learn /something/ from the process of moving out here to MA!)
Anywho, I still have mulch to haul and boxes to pack (
We're moving to Bisbee, Arizona!
The Viking will be the new Director of Technology/Chief Information Officer for Cochise County, in SE Arizona. He grew up in Bisbee, so this is very much a "local boy done good" kind of story, and he's very very excited about the opportunity there.
What this means for us as homeowners is that we've spent the last week and a half scrambling to prepare our house for sale in a market which is much less seller-friendly than it was when we bought it two years ago.
The end is in sight now. The list is about 3/4 finished and most of the stuff remaining is cleaning/decluttering, rather than painting/changing fixtures, etc. But we're waiting on a) the painter who is going to come touch up the bad spots and b) the carpet guys (We're having new carpet put in to replace the dusty rose stuff in the master bedroom and the stuff that was stained in what is now the Viking's office but was once a primary-colored playroom).
Most of what has been done has been "sweat equity" (long hours of hauling mulch, reseeding bare spots in the lawn, repainting, cleaning, switching out fixtures, decluttering, etc.) But we're also buying a new glass topped stove (The last of the appliances still remaining from the former owners), etc.
There's still more to do, but it's coming along. We could use a few more nice sunny days to help green up the reseeded spots on the lawn (think sunshine!)
What this means for me as a writer is that I've had to cancel all but one of my summer appearances this year. I'll be at Connecticon, as it both falls at a time we can work with (before we leave but after the house is on the market and thus all the work is done on it.) and we've worked out financial considerations for it. But PortConMaine, GenCon, Origins, USCC and Pi-Con will be Jess-less this year, much to my great, great sadness.
What this means for you? Well, if you're in the Pioneer Valley area and want to see us in person, contact us right away and we'll try to make arrangements. For the next few weeks, this will likely have to be "hey, wanna come help me haul boxes down to to the basement?" or "Come to our Yard Sale! Buy our stuff!" but after we get the house on the market (target date: 6/13) we should have a bit more flexibility. (Also, if you're in the Valley and have access to boxes (especially those awesome box and lid boxes that paper comes in) I'd love them. I'm running low.)
If you're in the Arizona area, this means "Say Hi, we're coming your way and know very few folks out there!"
Our tenative plan at this point is to get the house on the market next week, spend the next month trying to sell it and doing/seeing as many of the things in the NE that we haven't done/seen yet (NYC is high on the list), and round about the 25-26th of July, having a couple of PODS dropped off here, which will then be packed with all our stuff. After they come back to pick them up, the three of us will pile into our car and head for Arizona, driving cross country in a wacky adventure which will end at a little house we're renting in Bisbee until we can find a place to buy out there (notice how we aren't trying to buy a house at the same time we're selling ours? We did learn /something/ from the process of moving out here to MA!)
Anywho, I still have mulch to haul and boxes to pack (
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Date: 2007-06-05 11:46 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2007-06-05 12:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 12:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 12:43 pm (UTC)Best of luck with the moving process.
And you thought your summer was going to be a whirlwind with cons! Ha! This will be a tornado in comparison! I REALLY hope things fall in your favor though with the house and all.
*HUGS*
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Date: 2007-06-05 01:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 02:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 12:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 01:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 01:08 pm (UTC)jk. Congrats to the Viking, and good luck with your move!
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Date: 2007-06-05 01:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 01:13 pm (UTC)I love the Southwest it's so beautiful.
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Date: 2007-06-05 01:15 pm (UTC)My mom lives in Phoenix and is a U of A alum. She's had nothing but good things to say about the Tempe area.
Although I do have to note that you're about to move to Arizona in the middle of the summer, and insert the obligatory, "are you nuts?" :-)
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Date: 2007-06-05 01:27 pm (UTC)Besides, if we move during the horrific part of the year, the rest of the year will seem great by comparison, right?
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Date: 2007-06-05 02:56 pm (UTC)(Seriously, I love the area, and 'song and I got married during a perfect Scottsdale sunset in late October).
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Date: 2007-06-05 01:54 pm (UTC)When you visit NYC, let me know, maybe we'll have a chance to meet up?
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Date: 2007-06-05 02:04 pm (UTC)We'll miss you up here!
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Date: 2007-06-05 02:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 02:42 pm (UTC)david
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Date: 2007-06-05 02:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 03:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 03:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 03:27 pm (UTC)(BISBEE!)
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Date: 2007-06-05 03:52 pm (UTC)Talk to you soon!!
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Date: 2007-06-05 04:55 pm (UTC)Unfortunately, we're forced to be out of town on family obligations from the 15th to the 22nd. Maybe we can try and do a day trip to NYC together afterwards? I know Mrs. T has been wanted to do that with you guys since time immemorial.
*hug*
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Date: 2007-06-05 04:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 05:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 05:21 pm (UTC)No, seriously, it was 106-degrees here yesterday.
Good luck in your travels, it is good to see that you remain masters of your own destiny.
Maybe we'll take a road trip across the state, and meet you properly.
::hugs::
-Andrew
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Date: 2007-06-05 05:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 05:40 pm (UTC)I am going to school full time to get a Bachelor's Degree in Game Art and Design.
I want to work for the Wolf someday.
I will keep you in my prayers,
-Andrew
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Date: 2007-06-05 05:48 pm (UTC)Hey, Arizona means you might make a West Coast conference and you could come up and see your old friends in the rain!
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Date: 2007-06-05 08:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 08:34 pm (UTC)wow Az...
I couldn't do that!
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Date: 2007-06-05 09:19 pm (UTC)DRY heat!
Date: 2007-06-05 11:00 pm (UTC)The Southwest is where I'm from originally though the place I grew up in was in the mountains, more like Bend. I miss the climate, (not as hot there as in Arizona though).
Even though my folks originated "back East" and further, since I was born in NM I always consider it "out East" and "back West" rather than the usual other-way-round.
I love the Northwest but there is kind of a graceful cleanness to long sweeps of desert. It's more uncluttered and free whereas the Northwest is richer and greener but kind of complicated. Not sure exactly how to explain it.
Enjoy.
Congrats
Date: 2007-06-06 12:20 am (UTC)Please keep us informed, addresses, phone numbers etc.
Amanda and Alta sent their love and wish to be remember to both of you.
Congratulations
Date: 2007-06-06 12:56 am (UTC)Good luck on the move. :)
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Date: 2007-06-06 03:48 am (UTC)YAYAYAY!!!!
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Date: 2007-06-06 04:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-06 08:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-06 11:30 am (UTC)My moving ti[p is to label your boxes - and on more than one side is good in case they end stacked up on top of each other. (Like many of our boxes of books did for a long time.)
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Date: 2007-06-06 02:38 pm (UTC)Sorry we won't be seeing you at PortCon and PiCon (I'm shooting for being at both, and had hoped to see you again). I'm sure the SouthWest has some cons that will benefit from your presence.
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Date: 2007-06-13 02:47 am (UTC)I am glad the universe is providing. **HUGS*
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Date: 2007-07-04 02:54 pm (UTC)Even though it's not the Pacific NW I'm still happy. Means you guys will be on the right (as in correct) coast now. Woot!
i yotixon
Date: 2007-09-14 07:28 pm (UTC)I like it a lot! It very impressive. Good work. Thanks!