Checking off my List

So the weeks are going by and I'm accomplishing tons!

We have been plowing through the house and our garage has an UNBELIEVABLE amount of items in the stack to sell. I can't believe it was all in our house somewhere! We are planning on the MOTHER OF ALL GARAGE SALES in two weeks so I'm working hard to get through everything.



The picture doesn't even include our bedroom set, the crib, changing table, a few bookcases, two chairs, ottoman, cabinet, outdoor playhouse, sandbox, baby pool, another sandbox, cozy coupe car, angelfish rocker, see-saw, etc.....

Then....I can have the movers come to survey what is left for storage or shipping and set a date to have them actually pack things up.

We got our passports today too:



This means that I can photocopy them and attach them to the packets for school registration and get those fedexed off tomorrow. I'll feel better when I know they are set for school!

We received a housing application yesterday that we filled out and submitted. Our housing is somewhat based off of the size of our family and Brian's grade. Then - they ask what is important to us for a house. Ummmmmm - that was hard. I answered the questions (we had to list our top two) and we said #1 was a neighborhood with children and #2 was something close to amenities. Then I got obsessive and concerned and sent an email off to the CLO (can't remember what it stands for but it's some kind of relocation specialist) - we would be placed in a villa (which sounds great but is basically the same as a townhome here) and they don't have garages, only car ports. Ummmm we have a 2-car + tandem garage FILLED with stuff. Where do you put that kind of stuff if you don't have a garage (or basement or attic????) so I sent off a panicked email about that.

Then I spent more time thinking and researching online and obsessing and obsessing. Homes in Abu Dhabi are often referred to as "on island" or "off island". Abu Dhabi is an island with bridges that go "off island" and people can live "on island" where they are much closer to the city center but there's more traffic, cruddy parking for guests, sometimes bigger homes. You can live off island but it can take 20-40 minutes to get to some things but it can be a tighter community feel and there might be a community center/pool/play area for your compound (subdivison).



So....I obsessively looked around for "good" and "bad" places to live and shot off an email requesting certain areas.

Sigh.....

It was explained that the government has 123 lease properties in their inventory. Some are flats (apartments) and some are villas (townhomes) and based on Brian's grade and family size we would qualify for a certain type of villa. However - I have no idea how many that leaves us with and if we get to choose from there or where in Abu Dhabi they are located.

Then...I continued to read my packet of information and explains that there is a housing board (7 people) that review the applications and suggestions and decide where you are going to live. Hopefully we find out soon!

Brian got notified today that he will be attending a class in Georgia during the month of May (a few weeks in the middle) and then will need to report shortly after.

So...I am trying to create a timeline for myself, however there are some key details that are yet to be decided (by Brian's employer). So - here's my rough idea of the next few weeks:
Week of 3/27 - Move everything to garage for Garage Sale
Week of 4/3 - Organize & Price for Garage Sale
Weekend - Have Garage Sale
Week of 4/10 - Dispose of whatever we didn't sell. Receive notice of Medical Clearance. Receive official notice of Brian's EOD (entry date)
Weekend - Isabella's Birthday Party
Week of 4/18 - Brian is in DC for training & survey to assess
time to pack everything
Weekend - Easter
Week of 4/25 - Strip things off the walls. Patch & Paint Walls
Week of 5/2 - Schedule Packing Day
Week of 5/9 - Schedule Car Shipping Day
Week of 5/16 - Schedule Movers to pack everything for Storage & Cargo Shipment
Week of 5/23 - Clean out of house to move to hotel
Week of 5/30 - Replace Carpet & schedule Merry Maids
Week of 6/6 - Relax
Week of 6/13 - Enjoy last week here
Weekend - Move to Abu Dhabi
Spend maybe an extra day in NY if we can
Week of 6/20 - Arrive in Abu Dhabi

OMG

You Tube - What I would rather see there

Do you ever get forwarded a video on You Tube and then find yourself sucked in for hours looking at random other videos?


I thought this looked amazing and it's on my to do list when we get there, assuming I get the nerve and have xanax with me.

So then I started looking for other videos of Abu Dhabi, where we will actually be living.



I also found that one and it's another thing to add to the to do list....but these are more like things to do if you're on vacation.

I want a video about things I'd enjoy on my day to day.....

I found videos about The Emirates Palace, the Grand Mosque, concerts, tennis matches, triathalons. It was all very interesting to watch.



However, where is the video about the grocery store, the Mommy & Me Classes, walking at the park, a typical house, driving (although I found videos about 200 car accidents between Dubai/Abu Dhabi).

I suppose I won't get what it's really like there for me until I live there....only a couple months to go.

Getting Organized

I have always known that I'm not much of an auditory learner, but with this move it's become REALLY obvious.

I don't seem to retain much when I hear it, as opposed to reading it. You know how you sit down to a board game and someone offers to read the instructions if it's a new game or something? I ALWAYS have to read them myself to process it.

I don't do well when I have to sit and listen to lectures either. I have to read it to get it.

So....with this move, Brian is constantly updating me on things. I am CONSTANTLY asking the same questions a million times. The poor guy gets pretty frustrated. It's not that I don't listen, I just didn't write it down anywhere so it's not planted in my brain that's all. I try to listen and I try to pay attention, but it never fails that I ask him the same thing day after day. When do we hear about such and such? Who is going to call you about this and that? What has to happen before we find out that thing? So...when do we hear about such and such?

I decided to make a big book with EVERYTHING in it that I needed. I had all intentions of doing this when it all started, but we just had folders upon folders in different places or emails upon emails. I finally feel organized.

I have checklists, I have names & numbers in one area. There's just so much to keep track of and it comes from so many different places: Medical, Passport, Visa, Training, Home Rental, New Home, Shipping the car, Shipping our belongings, Storing our belongings, Travel.

I feel clearer when I'm organized. I like to write things down and check them off and have it all be in one place.

Brian got notified that he will be going to DC for his one week training in mid-April so I got to check something else off my list today and that always feel good!

Roller Coaster is on an Upswing

I'm finding that I'm being more positive when people ask about our big move. A lot of it really seems to depend on someone's reaction. When they talk about what a great opportunity/adventure/experience it all is - it makes me excited about it and I really focus on all the positive. When someone asks if I'm nervous about what's been going on in that part of the world, I get defensive (I'm not worried by the way). When people talk about how hard it must be to move away from my mom and friends - it makes me sad and I start to think about how hard that's going to be.

So----I'm trying to focus on the positive!

As for the process - our passport stuff has been received in DC, all of our medical is done except for Brian getting his TB test checked on Monday and then that's all good and done. Next is applying for visas. I'm working on the house rental stuff - I've started filling out all the paperwork and will be mailing off my first set of stuff on Monday. We are waiting to hear if they have acquired funding for a temporary person since this will determine when Brian has to go. I'm also anxious to get confirmation that the kids are registered for school. Once Brian's medical has been received next week, they can acquire our villa - can't wait!!! I want to see pictures and know all the details about it so I can determine what to ship and get my bearings of what area of the island we will be living on.

I have been working on getting through the house stuff. Did the foyer and the front coat closet this week, along with the under-stairs storage. The plan this weekend is to do the den and den closet, games closet and finish sorting the 3 bins from the under-stairs storage. I'm also hoping to finally finish the taxes. Otherwise, we just have Bella's last soccer game and a girl scout cookie selling stint.

It's feeling good to get rid of stuff.

I went through my jewelry a couple weeks ago and finally managed to go and sell it for cash at a local Coin Store (way better deal than anywhere at the mall by the way) - got $1450. Crazy to make that much off of jewelry that was broken or sitting in my jewelry box not being worn!

Well now - it's off to bed and thoughts of positive productivity for the weekend.