Military Move #4 – Navy PCS Across the Country

Yup, we’re moving again. This will be our fourth military move in 27 months. We won’t always be moving quite this often, but with the hubs in training, that means a lot of getting shuffled here and there. First, we spent 2 months in Pensacola, FL while he was in API (flight training ground school). After that, we moved 45 minutes away to Milton, FL so we could be closer to the base where he did his Primary flight training (NAS Whiting Field). We were in Milton for 7 months.

Then we moved again, that time to NAS Meridian, Mississippi for the guy’s Advanced training. We’ve been here for 17 months, which feels like forever since this is the longest we’ve been anywhere. Now that he’s figured out how to fly a jet, we’re packing up our Joyful Abode and heading cross-country sunny California. At NAS Lemoore, he’ll learn how to fly the Hornet (about a year). Then we might stay in Lemoore for his first sea tour (3 years), or we could end up getting moved to either Virginia or Japan for that time.

Somehow, every time we move, we seem to have more STUFF, despite having garage sales, giving things to goodwill, posting items on craigslist, etc. And this time? We’re taking on a huge-normous task – a full DITY move. That means instead of letting the Navy’s movers pack up our things, load the truck, move everything, and unpack everything (they just put the stuff anywhere they can, not “away”… you still have to set up your own house of course), we’re doing it all.

And this is all we’ve done so far:

Oh, and did I mention we’re leaving on the 15th? We have a LOT of work to do.

We decided to use a company called ABF U-Pack rather than renting a U-Haul or Penske truck and driving it ourselves. Basically the company drops off a trailer in front of your house, you load it up, and they pick it up 3 days later to drive it to your new destination. Then you unpack it. It’s about the same price as renting a truck, but we won’t have to deal with driving a huge vehicle across the country for 5 days.

On their “do not pack” list, along with explosives, paint, fire extinguishers, ABF specifies that we can’t pack OUR PETS in their trailer for shipment.

Seriously? You mean if I pack Zora in a box with some paper and food, I can’t send her? How would they even know?

Of course I’d use more padding than this!

And… what are these for then? ULINE makes big bucks off of their corrugated pet carrier boxes. Right? I think Zora might fit, if she goes into her “doughnut” position.

These boxes on the right are mostly filled with packing paper, crumpled up… we’ve been working on straightening it out so we can use it it pack our dishes, glasses, and other fragile thing. It’s gonna take forever but it’s okay because it’s free.

Speaking of free packing materials… here’s a big shout out to Amy & Jon, Merc & Eddy, and Lori and her family for hooking us up with their boxes, paper, and even wardrobe boxes!!! It looks like we’ll only have to buy something to move our mattress and box spring in and furniture blankets (we’re actually planning on checking Salvation Army for some used cheap blankets to use).

Another thing I’m doing in preparation of the move? Working on lots of blog entries for future posting dates… so hopefully you won’t even miss me.