The First Full Day In Our New Home

It was an ordeal, but I think it is finally over.  We paid the money, signed the paper, and drove off the lot this afternoon about 3 PM in our new Everest 5th wheel.

We got an early start yesterday with one goal in mind—downsize.  That seemed like a strange concept given the fact we live in less than 400 sq ft and had worked for years to get rid of the excess.  However, in the end we have made two trips to Goodwill and given a few items to the campground manager.  It is surprising how much “stuff” can accumulate when you really don’t mean for it to happen.  More junk went into the garbage, especially as the moving process progressed.  For some things it was easier to drop them in the trash than to find a place for them in the new coach.

Little Peanut also needed some attention.  It was time for his annual vaccinations, so after the assistance of the campground manager in finding a vet, we all piled into the truck in search of Rabies shots.  Peanut wasn’t nearly as enthusiastic about the adventure once he figured out what was happening.

To occupy the rest of our time waiting while the few minor repairs were being made on the Everest, we “packed”.  Actually, I just put clothing in grocery sacks and then put the sack back in the drawer.  That worked out pretty well.  For the move, since the bedroom drawer space was almost identical to what we had, it was easy to take the bags out of the drawers in the Montana and put them in the same drawer in the Everest.

Camping World finally called about 3 PM to say they would be ready for a walk thru at 4 PM.  We hitched up the Montana for the last time and drove the mile and a half to camping world.  They parked us side by side with the Everest—door to door.  By the time they actually got ready for the walk thru and the paper signing afterwards, it was almost 7 PM.  We wolfed down a cheese sandwich and set in to get as much done in the remaining hours of daylight as possible.  I started in the bedroom, so we actually were able to sleep in the Everest last night.  Of course, waking up with no water or electricity to make coffee was a bit discouraging.

I didn’t think today would end.  We bought the Montana for its large storage capacity.  Today, I didn’t think we would ever get it all out of there.  As noon came and went, I was desperate to just get it in the Everest so we could get back to the campground and electricity for air conditioning.  With stuff just shoved in every nook and cranny, we pulled off the lot about 3 PM.

Poor little Peanut was so confused, he cried almost nonstop during the moving.  He didn’t sleep well last night, running back and forth trying to figure out where he was.  He was fascinated by the fireplace, however.  He has finally given out and is asleep on his new sofa.
We called a halt to the work for today.  After a McDonald’s hamburger (the first hot meal in 2 days), we are now relaxing and enjoying for the first time our new home.

A few pictures tomorrow.  I promise.