How Would You Haul it?
Ok I am sure you do not want to read how crazy my life has been this past week. Babies who are in families that are organizing an international move are not allowed to get sick! Ethan did not get that memo!
The baptism was beautiful, wonderful, spiritual and blissful. Ethan’s eyes were all gooby and he was happy yet on the verge. Thankfully today we were goober free, although he is still stuffed up. It was wonderful to have friends present at the church and we had a fab picnic at a playground afterwards.
I know you are all eager to discover what it takes to get your name in for one of the two hand knit Market bags! Since hearing that we were trekking to Halifax before January, J & I have been debating how we will get there, our stuff there and not be total wrecks by the time all is said and done.
I need not remind you, oh faithful readers the utter disaster hiring a moving company was last time we moved (like yesterday *sigh*). However, this is a big move, over a great distance. We were pretty sure that we wanted to u-haul it, but that will take us like ten days on the road with an eight month old and a preschooler, driving separate (one in the van on in the car). At the very least, we would have our stuff with us, arriving just before Christmas, set up a tree in the hotel, celebrate then look for a place right after the holidays.
As of late, we have talked about the moving company again. Ethan has not been a great traveler lately and ten days on the road is a long time. Our intentions are to ask beg for more cash for moving from J’s new employer. If granted, we are thinking of flying to Halifax, and send our gear with a moving company. Choices. Choices.
So in order to qualify to enter for a chance to win a Market bag answer me this:
Which mode of moving would you choose?
Hire a moving company, lose all control, hope for the best and fly out, hotel stays for upwards to three weeks? Also, potentially paying upwards to a months worth of wages to assist in paying for said choice. (cat would be flying IN cabin with us)
Or…
Pack up your gear, the kids, the cat and with walkie talkies, patience, and a good sense of adventure & humour, haul your gear yourself. We have gone the u haul route a few times before. In fact that is how we trekked from Canada to California, and honestly I feel really comfortable moving this way. Just with the kids, it being winter …
Share your thoughts … You have until Wednesday Midnight. Later this week you will have a chance to win a Bomb Town T! w00t!
I can only speak for my child, but I have to say, he would loose his mind,and I would frequently have to be restrained from veering off the road in order to “make it STOP!!” and, as such, it just wouldn’t be worth it. Besides, making life easier is what wages are for. If you’re poor and need an adventure, stay in a hostel when you get there. Or impose yourself on an unknown family… maybe through a church? or through Craigslist, calling yourselves housesitters? But fly, baby fly.
please note: my child only nursed to sleep and still only sleeps in a bed and requires CONSTANT attention in a car. Don’t let me rain on your parade.
Eek! What a choice! The east coast in the winter can be quite trecherous (spelling…). The drive through northern NY, through MN, then NB then NS…could take alot longer than 10 days…plus there’s the issue of snow tires (another half day to wait around a garage while they are switched). Flying’s probably easier. For a couple of weeks, you can probably pack enough into the 7 large suitcases that you are allowed. How does the moving van cost compare to the hotel stays and gas money? Will SMU cover your hotel stay for a while?
Hi Chelle–
I’m Holly’s sister. I like your blog a lot, having found the link on Holly’s site. I’ve moved a WHOLE LOT. Here’s some things to consider. (1) U-HAUL does not always deliver moving trucks on the dates they promise–I have been royally messed up by this in the past. If you need specific dates, I recommend paying more for a reliable service (Like Budget Rent a Truck, which still allows you to move yourself). (2) I have one infant and drove with her for four hours the other day–it worked because one of us was in the back seat entertaining her the whole way. Sounds like a lot to handle with one adult. That said, your kids sound amazing and you have experience with this stuff so I’d go with your gut. (3) Other inexpensive options include: (a) shipping (non-breakable, non-furniture items) via Amtrak. You’d be surprised how cheap this is and it was very reliable when I did it–that said, it only lightens your load when moving other stuff, but that can be a big cost-saver, (b) using a service like UPACK, in which you load and unload your stuff but someone else transports the goods–was also reliable for me (in terms of timing) but came with some hiccups–getting permission to park a tractor trailer outside of my home in both the departing and arriving destinations was tricky/impossible. We had to rent a UHAUL truck once we arrived in our new home to transport our stuff from the UPACK terminal to our house. Extra headache/work, but relatively inexpensive. I hope this is helpful information.
Wow that is a tough one.
We did the tandem ride when we moved to Edmonton. Bruce drove the truck (which was nothing since he does that for a living) and myself a hormonal mess at 8 months pregnant drove the van with Morgyn and Kamryn (10 and 3 at the time). We did fairly well besides the fact that Morgyn kept asking umpteen times Mom are you going to stop crying soon? It was long and that was only 2 days of driving. This summer when I drove by myself with the girls was also tough, but managable with a 13 year old to help.
So the point to my rambling would be “fly dear girl fly” I say this thinking that you don’t want to be in the middle of this drive going OMG what was I thinking. IMO I think the money spent would be the best investment you could ever make. Sanity is priceless
I would start calling moving compaies and explaining exactly what happened with your move to NM and then going with the company who begged you to let them prove that a comapny can’t/won’t screw up.
Ok, it would be unfair of me to expect a FABULOUS bag, when I am SOOOOOO THANKFUL for the previous prize ….. and also I have NO moving experience (other than moving out of home into our first & only home, two suburbs away). Therefore I can only judge by what sounds the easiest - pack up and then FLY. Especially if (reading other comments) the weather may make driving conditions a little tougher. If it was summer, and your kids were older, I’d be all for a road trip, stopping at interesting places along the way, but as they are young, and you also want to remain SANE, perhaps flying would be best. Ask for more money, it would be fair to do that. Can you fly closer to relatives to spend the holidays with? Possible, not possible?
P.S. Are you able to share where you got the fab. bag pattern from??
Movers! We have used them for our all our military moves and it is hands down the best way to go. The thought of doing it myself gives me hives. Plus moving such a long distance with little kids is tough so quite honestly I think that flying would be the best way to keep you sane.
By the way I am so very much enjoying Wicked! I am keeping it for my book collection when we move this summer. I have to pare down some, so I may have some giew aways like you are doing.
I would definitely go with flying and using movers. The hotel living might not be fun and waiting for your stuff to arrive will be hard but you will probably be so overwhelmed with joy to be in Canada that you won`t care. Driving for 10 days with 2 small kids and without anyone to help you entertain them sounds like an absolute nightmare and with it being winter, it sounds kind of dangerous as well.
I would fly, definitely. I’ve done the whole 3 kids and driving cross country over TWO days, but not 10. No WAY 10. You’ll be a lot happier if you got their quickly and got the rest you need.
I think the investment will be MORE than worth it.
I’ve already won but wanted to say I love traveling, driving, etc. and would love it and would have a blast driving for 10 days - if you have time to stop and visit cool things along the way. Straight driving though, that wouldn’t be fun.
Can you get movers for your stuff and still drive? Then you could stop and have fun AND not worry about driving a packed uhaul.
Another option to packing yourself are those Pod Storage containers! I think you shouldn’t move your stuff, but driving wouldn’t be too bad.
I would choose the driving, but then again, I only have one child and he is a good traveller. If he were your children ages, I think I might still drive, only because at least when they stress, they are not stressing out other people, who can be rude, and put more stress on me.
Ethan will not remember, but it might be a fun adventure for Becca. Who knows when you’ll be able to do that again.
Wow, Chelle. Such a tough choice.
That said. I would drive. I’m all about the trip though.
I’ve driven cross country a couple times (once with Megan - Hi Megan - and the tire on the U-Haul blew, it was a trailer - get the insurance), but never with kids.
I’m assuming both you and J have done winter driving (being where you’re from). Not that accidents can’t happen, but winter (or say, rain) driving is much more dangerous out here than, say, where people actually do it sometimes :-). You can start on the southern route in the U.S., which won’t be winter driving, obviously eventually you’ll have to cut north :-).
Either way, how’s Ethan’s citizenship and/or passport? Is that going to be an issue? A Canadian that can’t get into Canada?
Good luck whatever you decide.
Um, I would likely get rid of most of my stuff and just take the bare bones of what was left myself. So I guess I’d go with a modified option A.
Good luck to you guys!
Geez! I am not real sure. I would fly. That way you could get there faster and and less hassle with traffic and winter driving. Do you need passports? Have a garage sale take the least amount possible, just enuf to get you thru so your not waiting for it to arrive. Do you have a pack n play! that would do until the crib comes and maybe one of those inflatable beds or maybe two until you can get your stuff. Chelle you are one awesome mom and just remember you are a vet at this. Try to stay in sane moments and let crazy roll past you. If you need anything that I can mail to you seriously let me know. I have tons of winter clothes for boys.
PS I had a job interview today … went well go back for a 2nd!
That is a hard one!! But being the penny pincher that I am - I’d brave it.
Good luck is all I can say!!
Wow, I haven’t read all the other comments but for me there would be no choice. I would sell everything that was not essential and ship the rest or hire a moving company to send the stuff, cause darling it’s just stuff. You guys are the real important part of the package. Getting there in a timely manner safe and sound (and still married) is the most important thing. If I had to put the airline tickets on my credit card and pay it off slowly I would so do it.
BTW, whatever route you do, please do not use U-haul. W-5 did a series on U-haul and the company is so not safe. I’m not sure if they have the back stories on their website but you might want to do a little research if you do decide to do it yourself.
Also, I know an awesome B&B in Halifax if you don’t want to do the hotel thing when you arrive. There is a wonderful artist that runs a place, I’ve never met you but I think you’d like her! Let me know if you want more info.
I love your redesign, but can I make one small comment? Hope it’s okay? Can you bump up the white on the font or make the font size bigger? Maybe it’s just my old age but the text looks grey and it’s very small.
Love the new look though!
A hundred times over I would choose to use movers. Ten days in the car would surely be the death of me.
PAY FOR THE PLANE! You will never regret it with two kids. It’s worth every penny to maintain your sanity and be able to relax sooner in your new CANADIAN home!!
It’s got to be the humourous route - all other roads lead to insanity!
Cheers
Yikes! tough choices, however, having an 8 month old, not a good traveller myself, I would definitely choose to fly & “trust” the moving company & hope for the best.
Good luck with your decisions & I definitely don’t envy you right now, lol
UHaul it baby. Just plan for some lousy weather. You are heading up north in winter. But this gives you more control and keeps your stuff with you. Plus it will lead to awesome blog fodder…
We drive 16 hours over two days to get to our vacation spot. Coming home this summer, our daughter threw up in the WAY back of the van - 4 miles from the vacation home.
I may not be helping here am I?