I know it may sound silly but, I miss our stuff.
Obviously I miss Alec, too. But I got really attached to all the stuff we had decorated our first place with. I miss our used couch; our scratched up Ikea table and chairs; our sagging spring mattress with no headboard. I miss our slightly mis-matched dishes, and our helluva bargain computer. And not just because I'm in an empty apartment right now.
I was probably too young to feel the same way the first time my parents moved as a child. But I remember a similar feeling of attachment to some of the homes I shared with my Dad over the years. I'll probably feel the same way when we leave Okinawa, as by then it will be the single place we've shared the longest. But for now, I'm left missing not only my husband but the trappings of my life with him.
As I haul armload after armload of things down to the dumpster, or Goodwill, or friends and neighbors, I am saying goodbye to the few things that were left in this place of the life we had here together for a year.
There is, thankfully, a not inconsiderable amount of peace in knowing that soon we will be together again very soon, starting a new life -- or more correctly, continuing and growing in the one we have -- in a new place that will become "ours" for a while.
Here you can follow our adventures in "turning Japanese" as we experience Okinawa!!
01 May 2012
28 April 2012
All the Fuss
When we first found out we would in fact be going to Okinawa for this tour, I was so excited! In a theoretical kind of way.
Over the course of the last 6 months, though, the more people asked me "Aren't you so excited?" the less and less excited I became. I don't know if it was repeating the same thing over and over -- "Yes, sort of; I'll be a lot happier when I get there. Right now it's just kind of stressful." -- or if it was the sheer span of time spent waiting; but eventually it was almost time to go and, well frankly I didn't feel ready.
Sure, we were physically prepared -- utilities set to turn off, bags packed, stuff shipped, dog signed off on, tickets reserved -- but when I found out I wasn't going to get to leave on the same flight as Alec, ... I won't say I was relieved, but it didn't much change how I already felt.
Now, though, now that he has been there over a week it's finally started to seem real. Getting a car, looking at apartments, contemplating a phone. It's sinking in. I am finally ready to go! Unfortunately now I still have to wait.
Over the course of the last 6 months, though, the more people asked me "Aren't you so excited?" the less and less excited I became. I don't know if it was repeating the same thing over and over -- "Yes, sort of; I'll be a lot happier when I get there. Right now it's just kind of stressful." -- or if it was the sheer span of time spent waiting; but eventually it was almost time to go and, well frankly I didn't feel ready.
Sure, we were physically prepared -- utilities set to turn off, bags packed, stuff shipped, dog signed off on, tickets reserved -- but when I found out I wasn't going to get to leave on the same flight as Alec, ... I won't say I was relieved, but it didn't much change how I already felt.
Now, though, now that he has been there over a week it's finally started to seem real. Getting a car, looking at apartments, contemplating a phone. It's sinking in. I am finally ready to go! Unfortunately now I still have to wait.
25 April 2012
Our Sweet Japanese Ride
We are now the proud owners of a 2000 Nissan Cube.
The JCI (Japanese Car Insurance) is good through early 2015, which is good because that can get pretty expensive! And yes, the steering wheel is on the wrong (which is to say the right) side.
Just like when we got each other rings, there was a lot of back and forth about what each of us was looking for in a car. Fortunately this conversation was a lot simpler, since we wanted basically the same things: something not too old (since they're all used on-island), clean, roomy (especially with rear storage for outings), and I like the boxy look so I think Alec leaned towards that to make me happy.
Check out those rims!
The JCI (Japanese Car Insurance) is good through early 2015, which is good because that can get pretty expensive! And yes, the steering wheel is on the wrong (which is to say the right) side.
Just like when we got each other rings, there was a lot of back and forth about what each of us was looking for in a car. Fortunately this conversation was a lot simpler, since we wanted basically the same things: something not too old (since they're all used on-island), clean, roomy (especially with rear storage for outings), and I like the boxy look so I think Alec leaned towards that to make me happy.
24 April 2012
Creeping Along
So, I'm glad that I called the passport office again today. I got to put in ANOTHER application this afternoon. I really want to be angry at the guy; but considering that he is doing the job of 3 people right now, and has been since February, I mostly just feel sympathy for him. (Mostly.) When people are overworked they make mistakes; and he has been quick to fix them when they arise, and willing to work with me even to the point of letting me have my documents shipped to his home address to be sure he got them!
This shouldn't delay anything, really. I should still be flying out May 4. Assuming nothing ELSE goes wrong. Knock on wood. (No seriously, knock on wood: maybe if enough people are doing it, it will be like Tinkerbell coming back to life. Only this time the fairy is a giant government bureaucracy).
In other news, this is from the blog's statistics page (among lots of other items):
I have to say I am excited about the readership - although I don't know who I know in Germany - but I am disappointed that so many of you are using Internet Explorer. So sad. Do yourselves a favor and go download Chrome or Firefox right now. (Safari people, you have amnesty because I will probably be getting an iPhone soon, against my better judgment!)
I haven't been able to convince Alec to make a post yet - I count it as a victory that he figured out how to send me a picture email from his iPhone - but from what I understand today (Wednesday, Japan time) he is going to be buying our car! I hope he picks something good! :)
This shouldn't delay anything, really. I should still be flying out May 4. Assuming nothing ELSE goes wrong. Knock on wood. (No seriously, knock on wood: maybe if enough people are doing it, it will be like Tinkerbell coming back to life. Only this time the fairy is a giant government bureaucracy).
In other news, this is from the blog's statistics page (among lots of other items):
Pageviews by Countries
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Pageviews by Browsers
|
I have to say I am excited about the readership - although I don't know who I know in Germany - but I am disappointed that so many of you are using Internet Explorer. So sad. Do yourselves a favor and go download Chrome or Firefox right now. (Safari people, you have amnesty because I will probably be getting an iPhone soon, against my better judgment!)
I haven't been able to convince Alec to make a post yet - I count it as a victory that he figured out how to send me a picture email from his iPhone - but from what I understand today (Wednesday, Japan time) he is going to be buying our car! I hope he picks something good! :)
23 April 2012
Cleaning Up
As far as I know, Alec's plan for today was to get checked in with all the various places he has to check into; and to attend a housing brief and see about applying for housing ASAP. I will let him fill you in on that, or I'll make another post if I get an email. The only two things I managed to get out of him between jetlagged naps were that (1) as soon as my passport is processed and I get the number I can get my flight booked, and as soon as my flight is booked Alec can apply for housing there and find out in a few days what's available for us on-base; and (2) that he got to meet his boss(es) and start working some, the upside of which I guess is that the sum total of leave days taken for this move is lower, and he gets to stay busy (as if that was going to be an issue with a move to a new place!)
I am having our apartment professionally cleaned. Which is an adventure in itself - I'm not used to letting people do things for me, even if I've paid them to - but it is totally worth it to me. We learned our lesson last time moving out of the place in Beaufort that as much as I am a stickler for clean, I would never get it right enough for the apartment manager(s) to be happy with it. I am already impressed that this lady is, like, cleaning all the baseboards, and doors, and little cracks in the shelves, and behind/under all the appliances. Like, wow. That totally makes it worth $175, plus being out of the house with Ginger most of the day.
Still no word on my passport, although I expect it will get completed by the State Department either later today or sometime tomorrow; and it's possible (although unlikely) that I'll have it in hand in time to fly this Thursday. However, as mentioned, it is not likely to work out that way so I've been looking into hotels in the local area. Since I'll have Ginger with me, this narrows the search quite a bit. And it actually looks like staying at the Base hotel is the cheapest option.
[EDIT: I still can't get a clear answer out of anyone about whether they accept pets but I think the answer is "no" in which case I can get a super-cheap Motel 8 type place and kennel Ginger, or stay someplace nicer with a one-time pet deposit; whichever is cheaper.]
In the meantime, we're just "camping out" on the living room floor, watching hulu.com - which it turns out does work in Okinawa - and reading library books (well I am; Ginger mostly sleeps), biding time until we're all reunited again!
I am having our apartment professionally cleaned. Which is an adventure in itself - I'm not used to letting people do things for me, even if I've paid them to - but it is totally worth it to me. We learned our lesson last time moving out of the place in Beaufort that as much as I am a stickler for clean, I would never get it right enough for the apartment manager(s) to be happy with it. I am already impressed that this lady is, like, cleaning all the baseboards, and doors, and little cracks in the shelves, and behind/under all the appliances. Like, wow. That totally makes it worth $175, plus being out of the house with Ginger most of the day.
Still no word on my passport, although I expect it will get completed by the State Department either later today or sometime tomorrow; and it's possible (although unlikely) that I'll have it in hand in time to fly this Thursday. However, as mentioned, it is not likely to work out that way so I've been looking into hotels in the local area. Since I'll have Ginger with me, this narrows the search quite a bit. And it actually looks like staying at the Base hotel is the cheapest option.
[EDIT: I still can't get a clear answer out of anyone about whether they accept pets but I think the answer is "no" in which case I can get a super-cheap Motel 8 type place and kennel Ginger, or stay someplace nicer with a one-time pet deposit; whichever is cheaper.]
In the meantime, we're just "camping out" on the living room floor, watching hulu.com - which it turns out does work in Okinawa - and reading library books (well I am; Ginger mostly sleeps), biding time until we're all reunited again!
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