Less than three weeks ago I didn’t know that moving my family was even a possibility, but here we are, living in Tennessee.
It’s very surreal.
Tate’s company has put us up in a nice three bedroom house with a deck and a yard. We are nestled amongst million dollar homes that overlook the lake, though our house is definitely NOT of the million dollar variety. I’m grateful that we’re not living in an apartment and that we are living rent free until we purchase a home. However, this nice three bedroom house is in an area inhabited mostly by retirees and is a good 30-45 minutes from shopping and CIVILIZATION.
I’m having a lot of trouble wrapping my brain around the fact that my family and I no longer live in Indiana, but instead I live in amongst retirees in Tennessee.
Since finding out just under three weeks ago about our impending move, my mind has been occupied with the endless details of moving. I hadn’t allowed myself to think about what it would be like to LIVE again, in the new normal we have to carve out for our family.
My inlaws, who should be sainted or knighted or something, had spent the past week helping me prepare and move. Without them I don’t think that I could have coped with packing my children’s toys and clothes and driving away from our home in Indiana. They left to return home yesterday and all day I felt this huge black emptiness. Way out in retirement land with nary a park or a FRIEND nearby, I feel lonely and isolated.
Frankly, the new normal sucks.
Bitterness about this move continues to creep into my thoughts. I feel so angry that we are having to find our normal again, after having just found it. Living in temporary housing, using someone else’s dishes and pots, sleeping in someone else’s bed, showering in someone else’s (carpeted…ew!) bathroom is not what I had in mind for a normal life.
I realize it’s only been ONE day on the quest for normal. Tate told me last night that despite my assertion over and over that I WOULD be in a HOME by Thanksgiving, there would be no way for us to close on a house anytime before mid-December. We are at the mercy of our relocation company whose timeline is not the same as ours.
It has to get better, I know. But when?
**********
I apologize for yet another post about moving, heavy on the whining, light on the funny. Soon I hope to get my funny back. If you’re lucky, I’ll post some pictures of the horrifying lovely floral decor in our temporary house. Because, um, WOW.
Bathrooms with carpet are gross-just ask me-I’ve got one. (Don’t judge-it was this way when we moved in and believe it or not there were bigger projects.)
I’m sorry your groove hasn’t found you yet. I’m sure it just got lost on the way to TN-but I’m sure it will fond you soon. Try laughing-those silly grooves seem to have great ears for the laughter.
I’m sorry that the new normal sucks right now. But hopefully it will be a lot better once you can get into your own home. I hope you find a park and some good friends in the meantime!
Whine away, woman. You’re entitled. I am amazed that you are still sane with so much moving.
patois´s lastest post..Haiku: Serendipity
This totally sucks for you. Do all the whining you’d like!
Toni´s lastest post..Still
I hate that you had to move. I had kind of fallen in love with your neighborhood from one of your posts about the kids playing in the front yard and you having friendly neighbors. On the bright side, your time in Shady Acres retirement land is bound to generate some amusing blog entries
Hang in there
Don’t EVER apologize! We here in Bloggyland all know that we write about the things that we think about most… whether it the happy or the sad. We love you!
Dude. Whine away. Remember how we moved back to MS a month ago? And I really liked where we moved?
WE JUST MOVED AGAIN. No, not across country (aaaaaagain), this time just across the town but inside a year and a half we have moved five times, two of those in the last month. And we came here with my sister’s three kids and have since acquired a FOURTH (and a teenager, at that).
Yeah girl, I am waiting to find and settle the ‘new normal’, too. But we will find it babe, both of us. Promise.
I can’t believe how fast you packed up and moved. It seems like it was yesterday when you told us about the whole thing. I hope Tennessee starts to feel normal soon. At least the neighborhood sounds nice!
Megan´s lastest post..Two Years … Already?
Whine away. You’re entitled. Look on the bright side, though. All those retirees are probably missing the grandkids and would LOVE to babysit.
And the new banner? Awesome.
all things BD´s lastest post..For a Good Time, Read…
First off don’t apologize. It is your blog and no one is going to throw you in jail for blogging about moving…that is what a blog is for anyway, to blog about your life as you see it?
Second, I feel for you. Nothing worse than moving all the time…there for a while when I was married to my ex I refused to keep anything like furniture and we lived out of boxes because every time I would get things the way I wanted it we had to move (for different reasons, but moved none the less).
And while I see that sometimes your DH’s company has to send him off places, I would have to tell them to screw off if they did it again any time real soon and leave you guys be for a while. It isn’t like it is just you guys, you have children and it won’t be easy on them when they are in school…I changed schools a lot when I was growing up and I never had any friends (damn Nashville affirmative action…always busing us kids to make sure the schools were “de-segregated”…but never stayed in a the same school system more than one year).
Either way, my heart goes out to you.
*hugs*
Sandy´s lastest post..No Obligation
I feel bad that you’ve had to do this. I know I would be feeling rather glum about the situation too. I hope that you can find a house “soon” and get settled into life there.
Mommy Daisy´s lastest post..My happy place
So sorry you are not finding your niche yet. We moved a bunch when I was growing up (my dad was ARMY) so I know how it is to live in a house that is not yours. We had cinderblock walls my entire childhood. I was never quick to adapt, but it did usually happen. Good luck, get out and explore! You always have the bloggy world.
Shanna´s lastest post..Weekend Update
Ugh. I can’t believe that you won’t be able to get out of temp housing till December! That sucks!
That probably didn’t make you feel better. Sorry…
Devan´s lastest post..Because I’m bored Saturday
I can’t believe you’ve survived the whirl wind as it is so whine away. I’ve been there .. just keep telling yourself next year will be different, and it will.
Melizzard´s lastest post..The Ex List
We may be in your shoes too soon. My hubby is waiting on a promotion and basically we can narrow our future location down to one of 6 states. That’s it.
Hang in there!
KD (A Bit Squirrelly)´s lastest post..Hi Headache? We need to talk.
oh honey, you may whine all you want.
we’ll be here to listen and pat your hand and offer hugs and a lot. of. wine.
the planet of janet´s lastest post..I think I have lost my mind
ok, i don’t know what to say. sorry… and i hope you do find home soon! but, on a better note, wow, your banner is cool!!
shaz´s lastest post..Officially 6
moving is so hard… i wish you the best of luck getting thru this time and finding your new normal…there is lots of blog potential here at least ;p
marla´s lastest post..The Washcloth
When I was in college, I had an apartment one summer with a carpeted bathroom. Once, after a very bad round of tiramisu at the Olive Garden (never again!), I was very grateful for the carpet. But, otherwise, ewwwww.
I’m so sorry. Whine all you like. Moving, especially unexpectedly, is stressful and difficult, and you need an outlet.
NGS´s lastest post..A System of Checks and Balances
(((Hugs))) Don’t beat yourself up. You feel how you feel. I know ‘we’ understand, whining is allowed amongst friends in the blogosphere. Besides, it’s not whining, it’s venting, very, very healthy.
Mom24@4evermom´s lastest post..A distraction
One day at a time, darlin’. One day at a time. Your ‘normal’ is in YOU, not in your surroundings.
lceel´s lastest post..Epilogue
It’s hard to be grateful for what you DO have when all you can think about is what you lost.
It’ll be OK, but keep whining if you need to.
moo´s lastest post..photo challenge, distorted & clear
I’m so sorry. I will pray for a new friend there for you. With kids yours’ age, so that you can have someone to talk with.
Krista´s lastest post..18 Months!
Personally, I don’t know how you’ve managed. I think you’ve earned several whines and perhaps even a rant.
Have at it.
PS – We miss you here in Indiana already
Have the T-shirt´s lastest post..Barack Comes to Indy
Have Tate string the lights on the roof of the new house, the day you move in. I hope you are able to close on a new dream home before Christmas morning.
Hang in there, Jennifer.
Mama DB´s lastest post..Now I can have eggs…everyday.
I’m in the same place you are. We have just moved about three months ago, and I just can’t find normal. We have no friends, nothing familiar, weird neighbors. Where do we begin to start again?
You have every right to whine. Sometimes life isn’t easy. And right now, you’re adjusting to changes you didn’t want. Also, isn’t that what a blog is for? To temper the whining we do to our own families?
Moving sucks. And it takes time to find a niche. I am dying to see the floral decor, however. I usually find that when life is at the hardest, it’s time to start making light of whatever I can. If that means carpet in the bathroom and flowers everywhere you look – so be it. We’ll laugh at it all right with you.
I hope that this time in temp housing is very short. I am still learning to like Utah and I hope you learn to like Tennessee.
Good Luck!
Connie @ Young & Relentless´s lastest post..The Connie Diaries ~ September 1985
i can only imagine floral decor in senior housing…
ugh.
please show pictures, then i may feel less bad about my own house.
thinking of something positive…something positive…
people with way too much time on their hands that really want to babysit??
jen´s lastest post..an apple a day…
Moving sucks. I’m sorry you had to leave somewhere you loved. We will also be moving but we have no idea when or where. Well, by the end of this year but where is unknown. If you don’t mind me asking – how the hell did you sell your house in Indiana so fast? We’ve had our house on the market since May in preparation for our phantom move and nada!
Sissy´s lastest post..You Asked For Pictures
I’m sorry. The whole situation sounds so sucky…I can’t imagine what it must actually be like to live it. So don’t apologize for blogging about it.
And why oh why was carpeting in a bathroom ever considered a good idea? Blech.
Slacker Mama´s lastest post..the ecstacy…and the agony
Oh goodness, we haven’t sold our house! Most likely the relocation company will have to buy it so that we can get the equity for a house here. We ARE lucky his company will buy the house if it doesn’t sell.
Great post- I’m sure it took you some time, yet I can’t help dwelling on the carpeted barf-room! My solution when we temporarily had carpet in ours- put towels on the floor- they can be picked up and washed every day. Even now with tile floors, my favorite thing is those hotel-like bathmats that are actually white towels- totally bleachable- no more blech! I feel for you- can’t imagine being on tour with such a young fam! Hang in there.
we moved to boston a few years back and the first month was so hard. I felt like a 7 year old that hated “away camp”. what helped – meeting people, finding a great supermarket (don’t ask but I am so weird about food stores) and going for walks with the family. Once I let go, it got so much better, than as fate would have it, we moved back to philadelphia. i guess its all about adjusting. hang in there. retirees aren’t that bad
Mommie Blogs´s lastest post..babies r’ us/ toys r’ us coupon
Please, please whine away. Besides the fact that you totally deserve to whine, it makes me feel better about my end of pregnancy whining.
By the way, retirees make really good neighbors.
jerseygirl89´s lastest post..Never Been Kissed
It’s good to hear from you – and I don’t think you were THAT whiny. Hopefully TN gets better once you find a house. Rent free until Dec???? Sounds like you should be getting some really good jewelry this year for Christmas – OR – some really nice camera lenses.
Cathy´s lastest post..And it went, "Ooooooh."
Don’t stop believing – it’ll get better. And less than two weeks til we shoe Nashville a good time!
Amy in Ohio´s lastest post..Go forward and leave me a comment
you whine away! and I’ll see you next weekend!
Don’t apologize! I’d be beyond miserable.
We’re here for you!
Angella´s lastest post..Workin’ It
Whine away! I’m sure there are great things waiting for your family in Tennessee, I just hope they start appearing on the double!
Sue @ My Party of 6´s lastest post..Blog Him, Blog Her and a GIVEAWAY!
You whine all you want. Lord knows I would be. You are going through a tremendous change (again) and I think a little whining is in order.
Hang in there!
kat´s lastest post..Saturday Suggestions Part 2
I have been wondering how your move was going. I am so bummed that you had to leave a place that you loved, but I hope that you find something that fits just right once you get a chance to look around in Tennessee. My fingers will certainly be crossed for you!
Maggie´s lastest post..Best Shot Monday: Summary Saturday – Project 365, Week 38
Oh babe, I have been where you are. Take time to grieve for your old life, but not to long. Search for the wonderful in your new home town. You will find it, it is waiting for you to seek it.
Honestly. I know. I have done this twice, the first time I looked for the bliss and found it, the second I wallowed and spent an entire year crying myself to sleep every night only to find the wonderful the week before we moved away again.
Oh, Jen. My heart just breaks for you. I can’t even imagine how hard this must be.
Misty´s lastest post..I’m in Sales
No apologies for the whining. Whine away. I sure as heck would! You’ve earned your whining rights. Now go with it! Oh, and hurry up with the flower pics, ok? Thanks.
Well, thank goodness for the small blessing that is your inlaws, at least. Hopefully things will get better soon!
April´s lastest post..It Was Good While It Lasted.
I think you can whine all you want. That truly must suck in all sorts of ways. But you still have us!!
We love you Jennifer – and you got my digits when you need to scream & vent. From one transplanted mom to another, it’s okay to go into a closet and scream. I promise. You will get your groove back. I know you will. You are an amazingly resilient person.
Anglophile Football Fanatic´s lastest post..The Final Countdown
Oh do I feel your pain about moving, especially when you loved Indiana so much. I can’t wait to hear about your Tennessee observations. I have many, even though I have been here for only 6 weeks. At some point, I will write about them.
misfithausfrau´s lastest post..Out of the Mouth of Ella