I made the mistake of letting myself relax. I moved all of the furniture that matters to anyone. 90% of my things are either packed or thrown away. I even did laundry so all the clothes I pack are clean. 

I know I’m taking my speakers/turntable in the car. I’m also taking my luggage set packed with clothes. I’ve got a box reserved for bathroom things because that goes last. My computer and associated gear will go in the car and I’ll live on the Surface for a couple weeks. Towels, pillows, yoga gear. The artwork and a set of TV tables. After that, I just fill in gaps until it’s packed.

I’m shipping anything left on a palette. Including the bulky cat stuff that weighs nothing and takes up space. Shipping stuff for $600ish and having it show up at my building a few days after I get to Seattle. Priceless. So technically I’ll only have to unload stuff twice. That’s especially good considering I don’t get a parking space.

So I decided to sleep in this morning. A winter warning scared the city into silent submission so it’s not even really a day for most people. I figured by noon I’d get too antsy and start packing again.  Jokes on me – I’m out of boxes! So instead I made a pile of pillows on my floor mattress and packed a bowl.  Another Netflix movie is drawing to a close and I have no desire to move.  Not even to put on a new movie.

Part of it is my cat sleeping next to me.  Despite the constant turmoil she has remained relatively unphased.  In 15 years she’s seen 5 moves so I’m sure she figures it’s no big deal.  As long as she can curl up next to me and press her feet into my love handles as she snoozes, it’ll all be okay.  I have no way to warn her about the cross-country flight.  I’m just banking that after not seeing me for over a week she’ll be so happy at the reunion we’ll be home before the rest sets in.  It’s a long shot but I don’t have a choice.

Another reason it’s hard to get moving is because I don’t think I’ll stop this time.  Once I see the packed car it will be hard not to start driving.  Caring for the cats is the only anchor keeping me grounded.  It’s the reality that makes this permanent.  I think the only thing I have left to do is say goodbye to Memphis.  I won’t be able to do that until I’ve walked into the apartment I leased sight unseen.  Further proof that all the money in the world does not make the hardest things easier.