It’s hard to believe that 10 days have passed since I last posted anything. The time is just flying by and the ‘to do’ list continues to be a bit intimidating. The timing of everything is a bit problematic but it is what it is. I am trying to squeeze in training rides for my bicycle trip over in the San Juan Islands while also trying to purge the house and get ready to move! As I said last time, the chaos continues.
One week from tomorrow, we will be heading out on our three-day trip down to Arizona or as I call it ‘hell’ when I read the weather forecast showing yet more days for 100-degree heat!! But Barb reminds me that ‘it’s a dry heat’ like that is going to make me feel better! :0) In any case, I will only be there for one night before I jump on the plane and return to Bozeman to finish emptying out the house. Once the house is emptied out, I’ll pack up my bicycle and head for Washington to do the ride in the San Juans.
As I said before, trying to get rid of almost everything you own is harder than just moving. By the time all is said and done, whatever is left of my 3 bedroom, 3 bath house and all its contents will be condensed into one U-Haul shipping box that will make its way to Arizona. It’s been quite a process.
I have become very familiar with the local pawn shops. I used one to sell my guns – it’s an interesting place!! I used another for my larger power tools and then a third for my smaller tools and whatever other miscellaneous stuff I have. It’s been an interesting experience. I have also been using Craig’s List which is also an interesting experience.
In addition to taking stuff to the pawn shops, I have been donating heavily to the Gallatin County Food Bank, Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity and making occasional trips to the dump. You don’t really understand how much stuff you accumulate until you try to get rid of it all!!!
We did take a break from the chaos to drive up to Glacier Park this past weekend and drive the Going To The Sun highway. The scenery is spectacular and the Going To The Sun highway is an interesting and beautiful drive – definitely not for the faint of heart drivers or those subject to getting car sick.
We had the house inspection at the beginning of the week, and it doesn’t appear there were any major findings so we are hopeful the process of selling the house will continue to progress. We are in a contingent sale so we don’t yet have a closing date but hopefully that will get nailed down soon. (Fingers crossed!)
We have been keeping an eye on a website geared towards long term rentals in Portugal and are encouraged that there are some nice places coming on the market. Once we get somewhat settled in Arizona, we will begin trying to nail down some visits so when we go over in November, we can sign a lease. (Again – fingers crossed!). That will be step one in getting our long-term visas.
So, progress on this little adventure continues. I’ll leave with a few of the pictures from Glacier.
