Away to CA
Posted 11:13 PM, September 14, 2006, by plowneyMoving to California isn't necessarily difficult, but it does take some consideration of how to get there in the first place. Not to mention how to bring things such as computers (2), bicycles (2), various pots and pans (5), clothing, and everything else that makes an appartment function. Oh, and the car. After a free for all brawl between options a.) driving u-haul with car on a trailer b.) shipping car + everything then flying c.) driving u-haul and shipping car d.) driving car, shipping what doesn't fit and e.) driving car with trailer, option e.) won. So today I started on a trek from Bethesda, MD to Stanford, CA hoping to make it to California on the 18th.
Of course, because moving requires a lot of organization and planning, I procrastinated for most of the summer before making this decision. Also because I was out of the country for most of the month of August, nothing got done. 
I ended up reserving a trailer with U-Haul a little less than a week before I needed it.
One problem: I didn't yet have a hitch to tow said trailer. U-Haul didn't have the part in stock either, so I ordered a hitch online, got it delivered the day before I was to pick up the trailer and convinced the guy who installs hitches at U-Haul to stay past closing time in order to install the hitch so that the next day I could actually get the trailer.
Conveniently he let me take the trailer that evening so I didn't have to come back (much to our mutual relief I'm sure). Having secured a hitch and trailer just in time, I went to AAA to get Trip-tiks, basically a map of the itinerary from my house to Stanford broken down into roughly 200 mile increments. 
AAA also provided guidebooks for the states we'd be seeing as a source for finding hotels as we go. Finally, I purchased a huge lock to ensure the security of my trailer.
The planning stage complete, with all my boxes packed and waiting to be moved into the trailer, I faced the hardest part of the whole moving endeavor: goodbyes. Leaving behind family, friends and significant other was very difficult. My family and I are very close and given the short distance between the University of Maryland and my house, I've grown accustomed to having dinner at home once a week. My brother being in New York, I could also go visit him practically anytime for a $30 round trip bus ticket. I will definitely miss these things. 
I do have a couch though, and Stanford's a beautiful place so I'm sure I'll get visitors. Also I've enlisted my father in helping me drive across the country.
We left much later than we would have hoped packing the trailer having taken far longer than expected, so tonight we only got to Cleveland.
Tomorrow we really start driving. We'll need to go 10-12 hour days if we hope to make our target. 362 miles down, 2,544 miles to go.
Comments
Comment by: Xiah at September 20, 2006 07:55 PM
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Didn't get enough cramming my junk into a trailer and hauling it down to Atlanta with me, hunh? Also...
I told you so. :)