Today I have to pack for our trip to San Francisco, despite the onset of a cold. I’ll watch the Cubs and Brewers on TV and continue to follow the Rome series on HBO. Yesterday, I completed season two of Yellowstone, with the third installment scheduled for next year. Soon, the Ken Burns’ Country Music documentary will occupy my down time. There have been lots of forms to fill out in preparation of the closing date on our home. We’ve also set-up several appointments to look at apartments, mostly in the downtown Portland area. It will be yet another housing transition for us, only this time we’ll need to be able to tolerate less space and arrange for storage. 

There’s a lot to do in a move from one place to another. It doesn’t matter if you’re locating down the street or to another state, it’s important to make a list. My philosophy has always been that “if you write it down…you do it!” I’ve come up with about 30 projects to keep me busy over the next 45 days or so of our transition. At least, you don’t have to change your Passport every time you move, but it might mean a trip to the dreaded BMV. There will undoubtedly many more lists to follow, as we begin to actually move furniture and clothing. It will all be a hassle…but in an exciting way. For starters, here’s what needs to be done:

  • Find an apartment
  • Closing on house 
  • Submit Change of Address form
  • Update Chase and Regions accounts
  • Credit cards update on address – Chase, Marriott, Bank of America, Nordstrom, 
  • Update apps like Fandango, Cinemark, Go Daddy, Landry’s, Wild Wings, Outback, Starbucks, Open Table, App Store, Alaska, Hertz, Marriott, Uber, Orbitz, Southwest, United, Apple, Microsoft, Ancestry, 23andMe, Amazon, E Bay, I-Tunes, Facebook, Linked-In
  • Update Topps Now account
  • HOA transition
  • Urban Fauna update
  • Oregon College Fund
  • Driver’s Licence and Registration updates
  • Portland Clinic and My Chart updates
  • Set up account for home sale proceeds for future purchase
  • TSA-Pre update
  • Update Express Scripts and find new prescription service
  • Arrange for a mover and air-controlled storage
  • Cancel Cleaning Authority – prepare final cleaning
  • Dry Cleaners and Vet transition
  • Complete home repairs list including kitchen tile
  • Return equipment to Comcast
  • State Farm Insurance Policy updates
  • Buy a Roku system
  • Update Social Security and Medicare
  • Ring doorbell issue
  • Update Viking account
  • Pay off Regions and Marriott debt
  • Update AARP and AAA memberships
  • Change NW Natural, PGE, Walker, City of Portland water
  • Update MVC and Interval Exchange travel accounts
  • Dollar Shave Club change 
  • Update Fidelity pension and Benjamin Edwards IRA

We’re “Movin’ On Up” or should I say down,,,as in downsizing. We’ve lived in homes in excess of 5,000 square feet and in hotel rooms. We’re currently at slightly under 2,000 but rarely go upstairs. Depending on where we land this time, we’ll definitely be seeing each other a lot more in a one or two bedroom apartment of half that size. It will then be time to plot my 32nd lifetime move, after we’ve explored areas in California and Florida for full retirement. “The times…they are a changin'”  – as is our address.