Our New French Life
March 26 2019
Inspections, moving companies and Hiring Committee
What a crazy past couple of months it has been since my last entry. After my January panic induced internet research rampages, I mellowed out in February and most of March and even settled into a complacent, dare I say content era. Still uncertain about the job front, but able to take concrete steps toward the actual physical move and pleased with items within my control (and serenity to accept those I cannot change….).
Getting our house ready to sell, major purging, selling and packing of items that crowded or personalized the house and getting it ready to put on the market for sale. An insane 10 day window (during which we even had out of town family staying with us) from when we decided to list the house with a traditional realtor (rather than an ibuyer, ie Zillow cash offer) to when we left the house and the listing went live. A whirlwind visit to France, a glimpse and taste of our soon to be “New French Life”, then just as quickly as we arrived on the continent, it was time to come back to our US based life.
After 2 short weeks of open houses and keeping the house in near perfect (but still inhabited by a family!!) show ready state, we secured and accepted an offer to sell our home. As I write this entry (trying to distract myself) I have a stranger wandering through my home performing the home inspection for the buyers. We put the house on the market a good while before we needed to sell it. And since the best case scenario happened, we will actually have to rent a local house for over a month as we will hopefully close escrow while still finishing up our time in AZ. Fun times.
In my spare time I interviewed for a real job at my current employer and through God’s grace have made it to the Hiring Committee. I should know in the next few days the fate of the next era of my life. In the meantime I’m desperately trying not to think. Not to breathe (not really). Repeatedly calendar stalking the recruiter but refraining from nudging her for an update until the allotted time has elapsed (easier said than done).
If I get the job transfer that means our lives will be financially secure (sorta) but that I will take on a one hour each way daily commute on public transportation. Whereas today I walk downstairs to my home office. Major change. And If I don’t get the transfer, I get to enjoy the long summer with my family, get our household set up, live frugally and eventually (maybe) look for a job in the Fall, or so. Both options have their pros and cons. Neither are perfect. I am at peace with both. It is just the not knowing that is slowing driving me I.N.S.A.N.E.
Oh and my other spare time I’ve been trying to sort out the complicated, nonsensical world of international shipping and relocation companies. I have contacted no less than 15 companies, created a detailed trix in an effort to reconcile differing and never similar quotes in an effort to compare, decipher what we need and plan for this massive relocation. All the while trying to convince my dear husband that we truly don’t need 5 cars and 2 motorcycles in France, we really don’t.
KIds are doing fairly well but they are so over the school year. They are both doing great in French class, because that is what matters most right about now. But my son’s Mandarin teacher is a bit demanding and he can’t quite turn his homework in on time. Thankfully that grade doesn’t impact his GPA (whatever that matters in 3rd grade). My daughter pretty much refuses to go to school most mornings. Fun times.
So we bought one way airline tickets the other day for all four of us. That was crazy. With all my international travels and extended time away from my home base, I have always had a round trip ticket. Something about it feels so final, so completely moving from the US to France. It makes perfect practical sense, but it also feels so heavy, so final.
We decided to have my husband and daughter head over a bit earlier since the end of the school year is basically just fun times and since in France they will actually be learning and doing coursework. So they fly out mid-May (less than two months away) and my son and I stick around and fly out a couple of weeks later in early June.
So that’s what my past few weeks/months have been like.