I just got back from Arizona at about 2am this morning where I put a house under contract. We had been watching 5 houses for a couple months, made plans to go out and look and 4 of the 5 went under contract a few days before we got there! My house here in Maine is under contract and closing on 5/15 then closing in AZ on 5/24.

My house here failed the septic exam so I have to have a new tank and leach field put in before the closing.

I hired movers a couple weeks ago, they gave me a delivery window in AZ of 5/20 - 5/24. I made the deal on the house, sellers couldn't close until 5/24, informed the movers that I couldn't take delivery of my belongings until the 5/24 date and they informed me that would be an additional 6k! So now with less than two weeks to go I am trying to find another mover!

I have also hired vehicle shippers for my truck, my mustang and my two motorcycles.

Rented a 25' RV and booked campgrounds across the country figuring about 8 - 10 hours of driving per day. So that will take about 6 days give or take, leaving Maine 5/15 and arriving in AZ on 5/21, 3 days before the closing. Then we'll hole up in an RV park until the closing. This is all well and good but I have 6 cats so it's going to be a long 10 days in the RV.

I've been planning this move for a long time, I'm glad it's finally coming to fruition, but I've never been so stressed out in my life!

Sounds like fun

Moving sucks but it sounds like it'll be worth it for you! Tough it out and you'll be relaxing in sunny Az in no time. Good luck.

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SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

Have you considered a large whiskey or two?

This past August we moved 50 minutes away NNW. Being relatively close I used U-Haul and pulled rank on my large family circle.

I dusted off my supervisory skills.

Mike, I wish you and yours happiness in your new home.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Road trip with SIX CATS in the rv?

TEN DAYS on the road?

What could go wrong?

We've moved a few times over the years and I always viewed moving as a fine opportunity to get rid of stuff. That makes it easier. To answer the question, there are many things more stressful. Death, divorce, serious health issues, car accidents, the list goes on. Just got to keep your eye on the prize.

Lots of stress. But Welcome to AZ. You'll love it. It'll be nice and warm when you get here. :-)

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Paul
Salome, AZ

Seeings as it's Arizona it's Tequila all the way!

Just sayin'.....

When I left Maine Friday morning it was 30 degrees and they had to de-ice the plane before we left. Spent Friday afternoon, and Saturday, looking at houses. Sunday and Monday negotiating and doing paperwork for the sale, then hung out at my rental Casita Tuesday morning before my flight.

The whole time I was there the weather was spectacular. Got home last night, cold, wet and gray. Reminded me why I'm leaving.

I have no words of wisdom to help. For me, never again. My next move will be out and I will be horizontal in a body bag.

I’ve never moved cross country but….. For me it was a very large house addition acting as my own general contractor and a drug addicted teenager.

We moved twice in 12 months. We sold our home and moved into a rental while we built our cabin. At the end of the year we had finished our retirement cabin and moved once again. We’re in PA now right where we want to be. I don’t intend to move again!
On the bright side: we had two chances to “clean out the closets”. We only took what we really needed. Good luck!

Congrats! Where did you end up buying? IIRC you were looking at Benson?

We had the good fortune to be able to move without the stress of time constraints, and only 300 miles. I can only imagine what your move will be like!

Moving is stressful no matter how well it goes but invariably as you are seeing the details blow up.
Having lived in the south all my life not going anywhere hotter or drier than here. Along about August moving north looks good LOL

I'd stay put before I traveled with six cats in an RV.

JACK DANIELS

Ended up just outside of Benson. Keep telling myself in 23 days I'll be in my new home and all this will be behind me!

I'd have shipped the cats with Amazon. Apparently, that's a thing now.

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The best I can with what I got

My dad used to say that people need to move about every 5 years to shake down the house and get rid of stuff. I've been here 18 years now and I'm trying to clear stuff out of here even though my next move will be to Union Hill Cemetery outside Punxsutawney. You wonder where all the stuff comes from.

I was totally sympathetic and with you all the way, right up until the disclosure that you have 6 cats. You lost me there.

Best of luck.

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Life of the party until 8:00PM

I'd rather help 10 other people move, than move myself once.

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No baby we aint

Exactly. A wise man once asked me as we were facing a 3-4 day around the clock repair job:
"Do you know what's the hardest thing about work?"
Me: "I dunno - what?"
Wise man: "Thinking about it. Let's get started."

He was right. You have a good start, the hardest part is over, so roll with it and enjoy the adventure. You'll have stories to tell for years.
Safe travels and enjoy your new home.

"Is there anything MORE stressful than moving."

When in training to be a marriage counselor about 30 years ago, we were given a list of "The 20 most stressful thing that could happen to a marriage."

Moving was number Three!! I don't remember #2, but #1 is: Going on an extended car trip with TEENAGERS!

It didn't say they were human, so how old are the 10 cats?

Ivan

Just think, you won't have to worry about hitting a Moose or a Bear anymore.

Rattlesnakes, scorpions and maybe a poisonous lizard but they are not too big of a real world issue.

I wish I could move, but too many family obligations at the moment.

I'll take the above over the ticks we have here in Maine anytime. We are like ground zero for ticks and Lyme in the midcoast area.

Two are 10 years old, two are 8 years old, and two are about 8 months. All rescues. It's going to be interesting!

My Father said He rather have a complete burn out than a move.

Understand your concerns "madmikeb"...

As a veteran of 14 moves (relocations) related to my business, including an overseas move to Norway, it never gets any easier.

One of the most important things is to find a reputable mover which uses their own people to pack and load/unload rather than relying on pick-up day labor. Even so, someone will need to watch them like a hawk to ensure that a proper inventory is taken. Also expect that, even when the utmost care is taken, there will be some damage and/or missing items at the delivery end...unfortunately this is almost inevitable.

It's amazing how much "stuff" is collected over time. Consider to weed out anything you won't need or want at the delivery end. No sense in paying to move something that will ultimately be disposed of or sit in boxes for extended periods of time.

Great advice from MetalMan. We planned our getaway for about 10 years before doing so, only the exact location was in question until a year before.
We either sold or gave away almost everything except two bedroom sets. Snow blower, riding mower, lawn tools, dining room set, living room set, deck furniture, etc etc etc, all GONE. Either family or friends got some deals.
Made a couple round trips by renting a van, to bring personal items, guns (being very very careful in NJ and MD), etc.
We left all else up north in storage, rented a furnished apt, contracted to have a new house built which took about 8 months, called the mover to deliver what we had in storage,
543 miles away, DONE.

To add, at closing for my old house, my neighbor who was also my realtor said “I’ve never seen you so relaxed”. We took the check, went to the bank, deposited it, had some lunch, hopped on I95 South and drove to our new home state, smiling all the way.

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Sure you did

Last time I moved, the mover did a walk through and told me there would be no problem moving my reloading equipment, brass, and lead.

Moving day arrives, they pack and start loading the truck, my reloading stuff is getting piled up in the garage.

"Why aren't you loading that?"
"The boss said we can't take it"

So I call him, argument ensues, he refuses to take it.

Then after the truck is loaded, he has the gall to show up and says their estimate was off, demands more money.

What am I going to do? Tell him to unload the truck?

I'll never use them again (Two men and a truck).

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Common sense isn't so common.

IMHO, the best money ever spent is to pay for the packing service.

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Common sense isn't so common.

Just remember that adventures are not adventures while you are having them. they are only adventures after they are over and you are talking about them in the past tense with a glass of scotch and a smile.

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Forum consigliere

This and a vacation after the move is done.

I've been vacationing in AZ for 20 years. I'm retired so once I get to AZ life will be one long vacation!

I moved a lot as a kid, which was good aversion therapy. Hate moving. I was fortunate to have somebody else pack and ship my stuff when my position in the US became permanent. My wife and I still haven't decided about a retirement location. Stay in Vegas for the weather, relatively low taxes, and a good airport, or move to be closer to family while suffering higher property taxes and some questionable politics. 'Tis tricky.

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Release the Kraken

I lived in my Wyoming hometown from age 4 through 19.

The Air Force moved me 14 times in the next 28 years, close to
the three coasts (Atlantic, Pacific, & Gulf) and across both oceans.
Then I bought a 5th-wheel and lived in it full time for a year and a
half, moving whenever a neighbor annoyed me.

Bought a house in Wyoming, sold the 5th-wheel, and began to get
antsy after five years. Moved to another Wyoming town and have
been here longer than I lived in my hometown. Not leaving again.

aphelion nailed it in post # 7.

Moving is easy. Stress is self-inflicted. Roll with whatever happens.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Stressful? How about needing to downsize your home and having a new one built that better meets your needs as a senior citizen. A new home of only 1375 sq feet compared to the old one of 2,000 sq ft. Getting suckered in by a scammer posing as a sincere contractor who wants to help you and then takes three years to complete your 1375 sq ft home. One of the most worthless sub human excuses for a man I have ever seen in all my years. Absolutely no conscience, no remorse,
nothing. He only finished it when he did after repeated threats of lawsuits for fraud. But I did get the last laugh on the worthless scumbag. When he presented me with his final bill I made him a take it or get nothing and go to court offer of several thousand dollars less and he folded like a house of cards and took it.

Moving ssssssuuuuuucks. Hate it!
While I take Alphelion's post to heart about keeping things in perspective. Moving is a huge PITA.

Yes . . . .

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Live long and prosper

We have always been able to buy the house we are moving to before we sell the old one. Then, after the move, we sell the old one. And we never moved much more than 100 miles. Makes it much more tolerable. Just a bunch of trips with friends and the pickup.

Moving is the worst job ever. Haven't done it often thru the years but often enough to hate it. Made my last move 8 years ago.