Keep calm and carry on
Time for updates, y’all, ‘cuz you know we’ve got ‘em. From our upcoming road trip to our progress on multiple fronts, including the visa application document gathering and downsizing before the move, we’ve got lots to share.
Roadtrippalooza 2024 is just around the corner, baby!! This road trip is somewhat of a repeat from one we did in 2022, except we’ll be bypassing New Orleans (sorry to miss you this time around, New Orleans - we love you) and landing in Baton Rouge instead and bypassing in Houston (sorry to miss out on you Color Factory - you. are. SO! FUN! (hmm, wonder if we could fit in a visit - let’s look at timing)).
Project updates:
We’re getting the 2003 Honda Civic road trip ready (she’s got 235,000 miles and going strong) - oil change, fuel system flush, tire rotation.
Scheduled a call to fire our current property management company.
Rhys has gone through all of the technology power cords and techy-gadgets to determine what we need to keep and what doodads can be recycled at CHaRM in Atlanta (love that place!).
Shannon has about 20 hours in on the photo scanning project, with another 8-10ish to go.
We’ve both been reviewing paperwork for recycling or shredding and have filled three bags with shredded paper, with another 3-inch stack of shredding that we’re slowly chipping away at.
Important paperwork continues to get scanned into google drive for easy reference if/when we need it abroad.
Five bags have been taken to the donation center and we are officially IN THE decluttering ZONE.
Passport biometrics pages, driver’s licenses, and employment letter are notarized. The only required item remaining for our visa application is purchasing private healthcare insurance, and we cannot apply until after June 1.
Tons of questions are making our hearts race. When do we list our condo in Atlanta? What will we do with our cars? Is this the best idea? When exactly will we leave the U.S.? Where will we live? How long will it take for us to find a place to live? How will the visa application appointment go? What will we take with us to Spain? How many suitcases do we need? What about our phones? Will we sell our furniture? How much stuff are we keeping? What will we store at our place in Florida?
(AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!….and…we’re breathing…smell the roses, blow out the candles)
Interestingly enough, yesterday one of our friends texted that she had just watched an episode of House Hunters International on HGTV with a family moving from Atlanta to Valencia, Spain. Little did she know we’re planning to contact House Hunters International once our visa is approved. Fingers crossed they’ll choose us.
We watched the episode immediately and discovered one of the houses for the couple to choose from was located in the city center just across the street from the Airbnb where we stayed in Valencia for three weeks and LOVED! What are the odds?!?
As scary as things seem, we both feel excited about what’s next. Each decision leads us to the next step.
We got this.
