It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like...

We're moving!

Our stockings may be hung on our bamboo ladder with care, but the rest of our apartment is beginning to be dismantled. 
 
We gave away our living room furniture and it's place has been taken by an IKEA sofa bed from a spare bedroom. Looks like we're back in college.

Moving boxes have arrived for any pre-packing we may want to do on our own. So far, the spirit hasn't moved us.

Our rented piano is scheduled to go away in about 10 days.

I'm working as a used car salesperson to sell my Mini. Sales is not my forte.

The spare bedrooms in now a staging area for things that are being given to the new expat, things that are staying with the apartment, and a couple of displaced pieces of furniture.  Lydia now calls it "the storage room".  Eeks.  Glad it's only temporary.

And, farewell parties have begun.  Our calendars are strangely full for not being particularly go-out-and-be-social people!  Lydia's going away party with her friends is this Saturday - we planned it before a lot of expats (including us in prior years) leave early for Christmas travel. 

Preparing for this move is different than the one from KC to here.  It was hard to say good-bye to friends and family in Kansas, but we knew that we'd be back - to visit and to live.  Now, chances are good that we'll never see some of the people who have been part of our daily lives again.  Many of our friends are living on the expat circuit - going from one overseas assignment to another - and readily admit that they don't try to maintain relationships with people who have moved or they've moved from.  It's nothing personal - but it IS a bit odd!

The really good news is that we found a home for the cats!  After weeks of me being a crazy cat lady (I think I was beginning to embarrass Lydia - she told me I needed to stop talking to strangers about the cats), it was Dave who sealed a deal with the acquaintance of an acquaintance of an acquaintance.  Doesn't matter how random, we'll take it. I will believe it 100% when they are delivered, but we're in a much better place than a few weeks ago.  We'll miss these kitties!  :)