So you might want to move to another country.
Have you thought about what to do with YOUR STUFF?
We decided to move to Mexico after our May 2016 vacation and gave ourselves six months to prepare, which included selling our house.
Our house sold at the end of October but we weren't moving until December. Plus I was attending an art show.
The stuff logistics was an octopus maze, the toughest part of moving to another country.
stuff logistics
TEN PATH MAZE
1 SELL
2 DONATE TO FAMILY/CHARITIES
3 TO PARENTS HOUSE - art show products/display (but they won't go to Mexico)
4. SHIP TO MEXICO - coordinate based on the house sale & PV arrival date
5. DAILY ITEMS FOR LIVING - keep stuff needed to live in our house until it sells
6. KEEP FOR WORK - keep dressy work clothes that we'll need after we sell our house (November) and while staying at a temporary hotel for six weeks (but will not go to Mexico)
7. KEEP FOR LAST 2 WEEKS ONLY - keep warm clothes needed for the last two weeks in cold Chicago while living at my parents house
8. KEEP FOR DRIVE - keep clothes needed for Art Show, the drive to PV and possibly clothes we might need in PV if our stuff doesn't arrive on time (but minimal number of clothes because they all have to fit in a pod on top of our car since our two greyhounds will take up the back space of our SUV)
9 FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING, PARENTS HOUSE, & PV DRIVE - dog beds, cooler for raw food, water & food bowls, dog snacks (and figure out where to get raw dog food on the drive)
10 BUY - one car pod that's large enough for three suitcases
the first surreal day
october 27, 2016
six weeks before the drive to Mexico
The day my husband, I and our two greyhounds moved out of our house
October 27, 2016
WAS THE FIRST SURREAL DAY
It was bittersweet, as it was our first house together
We had seven wonderful years in this house
Pouring our hearts out into renovating every room
When we first bought this Chicago bungalow
It took two weeks just to remove the wallpaper
one of a kind show - chicago merchandise mart
december 1-4, 2016
I had my own business - creating and sewing couture dog collars
(plus a full-time corporate job)
I'd signed up for this show before we knew we'd be moving
With over 65,000 people attending, I couldn't miss it
By this time, the move was only days away
We were VERY excited
And told all our customers we were moving to Mexico - Come Visit Us!
one more day before the drive to pv
december 6, 2016
We're really moving to Mexico!
We'd been staying with my parents the last two weeks
In the morning, was a special vet appointment to give us the stamp of approval for our dogs to cross the Mexico border
We spent the afternoon prepping the car, attaching the pod, and other small last minute items. I tried not to get teary-eyed at the thought of leaving my parents. The evening was occupied with last minute checks on the best routes for the drive down to Laredo, then to PV.
I checked the leather satchel which stored all the important documents we needed for the border crossing.
OUR CAR TITLE WAS MISSING!
Todd had taken the car title to the Mexican Consulate to get our car sticker for Mexico, but the lines were too long so he decided not to wait - after that, he can't remember what he did with the title.
PANIC MODE
9:30pm
Todd made several calls
And drove over an hour to Chicago to search at his previous work
After six months of planning
Our car title was missing
And we had to arrive in Puerto Vallarta on a certain day because our furniture was being delivered the day after we arrived
My dad said we could pick up a new title in Joliet
Which wasn't far and was on the route of our trip
.So we'd try in the morning.
Find out in the next article
did we get our car title?
did we have to delay our move to Mexico?
As exciting as this all was, the move was also heartbreaking
To be leaving family and friends in the U.S.
Mexico is close, yet also felt like a galaxy away
My character Larleen has a tough goodbye before she leaves the country
Have questions about planning a move like this?
I'd be happy to help, CLICK HERE
Journey to the Unique Magical *Sacred You*
xo Kathleen Naomi