Gave our 30 days!!

[bluepea]

Well, we be outa our apt at the end of the month. Then we have two weeks of homelessness until we leave the country for many more weeks of homelessness. The totally shitty thing is we told our landlord we were leaving and she told us she was coming over to talk to us about expanding the size of it! What is now is a small house attached to a consignment shop that she runs. I mean, this place is pretty teeny, but we have a big basement that makes up for it. We knew we'd only be here for 9 months, so it didn't matter. Anyhow, she's retiring and closing that shop so she was gonna let us have that extra space! It would have doubled the size of our house, giving us about 3 extra rooms. The Gods hate us. Jake gets offerted THREE jobs, one with about a 10k a year raise, one at our state university, one with the option for travel, we can expand our house... *siiigh* Ah well, still worth it. There'll be more jobs and big houses when we move back.

Yeah the panic and fear and consuming me. I feel like I'm drowning sometimes. Even if I didn't have to deal with all of the planning and everything we have to do to put our lives on hold, it'd still be pretty damn scary.

It was about a year ago the plans for this set in motion. At the time it just seemed so far away that it wasn't really feasible. As time went on and the date came closer it really began to feel like we'd be moving, but not really... know what I mean? And now with about six weeks... Wow.

I'm trying to enjoy every bath, every hot shower, every time I can shave my legs with ease, being able to just crash on my own couch and turn on some crappy show I TIVO'd.

I just feel overwhelmed sometimse. I'm sure those of you that went out into the world indefinitely with no real plans can relate, especially when all of the normalcy of life is given up - our cars, our house, some of our possessions...

Sorry, just needed to let that out. Now that the next month on the calender is the month we leave, I am really panicking. No second thoughts though!

[zylah]

okay take a deep breath
and enjoy

you lucky $%) of a &*)&%

[kingcrazylegs]

Ah ya got to love transition! You have a lot to look forward to

[foofiter]

Jamie I feel you. As you may have read, I am planning to hit the road forever and I am facing the same stuff. And I can't do it until 2008! I have just created a ticker below just for it so I can keep track of my time. I have so much to do! I am jealous of your trip too btw. I only get 2 weeks this year. I wish you guys the best.

Take lots of pictures!

foofiter

[bluepea]

Ah ya got to love transition! You have a lot to look forward to

Yeah, tell me about it. I know seriously I have a lot to look forward to (that's waht keeps me going ) and then I have all the crap to look forward... ugh... and it's just happening so fast!

Foo - yep, been following about your trip. Bout the same thing we're doing just getting an earlier start. If your three years fly by almost as fast as my one year, it'll be like tomorrow you're leaving.

Thanks guys.

[GoKrazy]

Jamie, Foo - I really admire your bravery! As much as I love to travel I also like to have roots and a home to come back to. Maybe it's just the word "homeless" that bothers me... Maybe it should be "houseless".

Either way props to both of you!

[tecia]

OMG that is crazy.
However, you guys are goingto have the time of your life and all the stuff may not be the same stuff but wither way will still be here when you get back home. So don't worry and have the time of you life with the man you love Really what could be better

[TimmyJames1976]

YOu guys are gonna have the time of your lives!!!! I'm very jealous!!1 Keep every1 up to date!

[travelpunk]

I feel ya, Jamie You could always sublet your house indefinitely and give the new tennant 30-60 days notice when you'll be moving back. That's exactly what I did.

-I didn't know exactly how long I was going to be gone for
-I knew that my apt was much cheaper compared to what others are going for in the neighborhood.
-Finding a new place to live was not a glamorous option for me, coming back home from traveling -broke.

So, I figured that if I just sublet my apt for at least ___ (in my case a year), then when I came home, all I would have to do is notify the new tennant about 60 days in advance, and I can move right back in paying the same amount of rent.

In reality, I moved back in about a year and 9 mos later. My rent was still $800/mo while other 1 bedroom apts were going for $1,200.

If that is still an option for you (since your landlord knows you so well), it could save you a lot of time and hassle when you come back home.

Also, whoever you decide to rent to, make sure that they give you a large security deposit especially if you are leaving any furniture in there.

And if you're really savvy, you can sublet it to the new tennant for a couple of hundred dollars more each month and have a positive cash flow .

In any event, good luck and have fun !

[my retro career]

Congrats Jamie & Foofiter!

I may be on the verge of doing something similar, I guess, I hope, I dunno....(I've talked to Tony about this in LA...)

Do keep us all posted; I for one am curious how you, Foofiter, Jamie & yer hubby will be coping with the sudden changes, mentally & emotionally..!

[bluepea]

Thanks again guys. Is it bravery or stupidity? Haha just kidding. Anyhow it's nothing to be envious about - if I can do it, anyone can!

TP - that would be a great idea and Jake and I have considered it, but we've decided when all is said and done, we will not be returning to WI. I told Jake last year this would be my last winter in the frigid north. Just can't handle the winters anymore. Although, it's days like today when you can smell the blossoms on the trees and the lilacs in full bloom with a slight warm breeze that almost make it worth it.

We will really have nothing to come back to. After this year, Jake's entire family will be all over the world. The closest relatives would be Chicago. I will only have my parents and older brother here after this year as well, and who knows how long they'll stay with everyone else spread out. My dad retires soon, so the world will be their oyster as well.

So, even if we weren't just uprooting ourselves, everyone close to us would be trying to do it for us.

Gokrazy - I too like houseless better. Although that still begs the question - how many warm baths will I get?