Last week I heard from the Feds and I'll start working for my three-letter agency on January 7th.
That means I'm leaving San Diego and moving to Northern VA. Yikes.
I've visited the D.C. area, for one or two weeks at a time, four times since 1997 (TDY at the DIA, training at the DIA, counter-terrorism conference in Alexandria, and training in Maryland) but I've never lived there.
This is also the first time I've done a major move without serious assistance. The Army moved me around. My company moved me to Cuba and back. Now it's time to do this on my own...
My wife isn't moving with me. She's going to finish her Master's at SDSU, keep living in our condo here, and keep working. That both relieves stress and adds to it. We're going to be apart again (stress) but we don't need to worry about selling this place and moving ALL our shit right now (de-stress). Instead we need to divide and conquer our belongings and figure out what I'm taking right now (stress).
I'm still waiting on the "welcome packet" from the Feds. That will include some answers to my questions, points of contact, and the actual location of my workplace. Am I working in the heart of D.C. or at some other facility? Beats the hell out of me. Knowing will make the whole home-search-thing a lot easier.
Full Version: Moving across country (the U.S.)
You're going to be in for a rocky stay of it. Do you know anyone over here on the right coast? When I lived in NC for 6 months that was one of the hardest things for me - loneliness. My wife being a few hundred miles away in our house was hard. Luckily I had my dogs with me.
When I was pregnant with my last child, my s.o. moved to our new home here a few months before I gave birth. Just that brief amount of time was difficult, so I can only imagine how difficult this will be for you.
Maybe your new job will keep you busy enough to take your mind off the separation from your wife.
Maybe your new job will keep you busy enough to take your mind off the separation from your wife.
How long will she have to stay in SD?
In several ways it's a repeat of my time in Cuba. During that 15 months we saw each other three times.
Now we'll be on opposite coasts for at least a year. We'll stay in touch via phone and Internet, like before, but this time it'll be less expensive. We'll be spending the balance in travel, I'm sure.
I know a couple people in the D.C. area, including an uncle and his family, so it's not like I'll be totally alone. I posted about this primarily because of the complaints of forum inactivity.
I also figured other people might have moved cross-country and have some useful advice.
Now we'll be on opposite coasts for at least a year. We'll stay in touch via phone and Internet, like before, but this time it'll be less expensive. We'll be spending the balance in travel, I'm sure.
I know a couple people in the D.C. area, including an uncle and his family, so it's not like I'll be totally alone. I posted about this primarily because of the complaints of forum inactivity.
I also figured other people might have moved cross-country and have some useful advice.
QUOTE (queltor @ Nov 12 2007, 02:14 PM) 
In several ways it's a repeat of my time in Cuba. During that 15 months we saw each other three times.
Now we'll be on opposite coasts for at least a year. We'll stay in touch via phone and Internet, like before, but this time it'll be less expensive. We'll be spending the balance in travel, I'm sure.
I know a couple people in the D.C. area, including an uncle and his family, so it's not like I'll be totally alone. I posted about this primarily because of the complaints of forum inactivity.
I also figured other people might have moved cross-country and have some useful advice.
Now we'll be on opposite coasts for at least a year. We'll stay in touch via phone and Internet, like before, but this time it'll be less expensive. We'll be spending the balance in travel, I'm sure.
I know a couple people in the D.C. area, including an uncle and his family, so it's not like I'll be totally alone. I posted about this primarily because of the complaints of forum inactivity.
I also figured other people might have moved cross-country and have some useful advice.
A good cell phone plan with free mobile to mobile minutes wouldn't hurt.
QUOTE (Mike @ Nov 12 2007, 06:19 PM)
A good cell phone plan with free mobile to mobile minutes wouldn't hurt.
Yup! That's part of the plan...
Damn. You're making a reverse move of what I did 5 years ago. Only I drove myself out here while my company shipped (and BROKE) my stuff using my company's transportation division.
That really stinks that you and your wife are gonna be apart. Seriously, that's gonna be hard.
The only advice that I have for moving across country may not pertain to you. I drove and had some time to sight-see, but I'm not sure if that's what you're gonna do.
That really stinks that you and your wife are gonna be apart. Seriously, that's gonna be hard.
The only advice that I have for moving across country may not pertain to you. I drove and had some time to sight-see, but I'm not sure if that's what you're gonna do.
It sounds like you both are planning on seeing each other more than the last time, true? If so, that should make this one a little easier.
QUOTE (Mike @ Nov 14 2007, 08:00 AM)
It sounds like you both are planning on seeing each other more than the last time, true? If so, that should make this one a little easier.
Getting on and off Cuba was difficult and very time consuming, so we didn't do it very often. This is a very different separation.
QUOTE (queltor @ Nov 14 2007, 02:06 PM)
QUOTE (Mike @ Nov 14 2007, 08:00 AM)
It sounds like you both are planning on seeing each other more than the last time, true? If so, that should make this one a little easier.
Getting on and off Cuba was difficult and very time consuming, so we didn't do it very often. This is a very different separation.I can only imagine the shit you had to go through to get in and out of Cuba.
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