The FINAL Countdown (Part 2)

Welp, we are officially at the airport. It has been a crazy week (unsurprisingly), full of farewells and people. Ev's mom came up from Dillingham on Friday. We went to to the airport to pick her up and were pleased to discover that Pete (Ev's stepdad) was also here.

We had a BBQ with one last cabaret show (per Mom's request) on Saturday. It was fun to have a chance to perform my extensive repertoire and say goodbye to people.

Monday night we had a final wine-pairing dinner with my parents, Rose, Scott and Vicky, and Paul and Marybeth. A nice gathering of family and basically-family with delicious food (everyone brought a dish and wine to go with it) and excellent company. Because I'm cool like that, the only picture of the evening is below.

We managed to do lots of climbing the past week and a half, although it was inside or at the tower. Prior to this week we've been out every day when there's been a weather window. Of course, as soon as we get a week of beautiful weather, we're in the chaotic process of packing and figuring out the last minute details. Luckily, our kick ass friends were willing to accommodate and meet us for early morning climbs. Dakotey even opened the tower for me! Granted, he didn't want to rig a top rope, but it let me do a couple leads (including a 5.9). I'm gonna miss those guys. We spent so long trying to find climbing buddies, and now we're leaving them. Luckily, grand climbing adventures are in the works and we'll see them again (in Norway and Greece (if I get my way)).

This morning reality set in.

Reality

is scary.

It was such a relief to get our bags checked and make it through security. Saying goodbye to my parents and Rose was hard. It sounds like Rose and Pete will try to come over for Christmas, so really we won't be seeing them any less than we already do, but there's something about the physical distance that feels so... final.

We did manage to run in to Orianna and Wolfgang (the parents of our German exchange student) as they got off the Condor flight that will take us to Frankfurt. They traded a European USB-power outlet for a US one, which we really appreciate. After an airport selfie, they went down to collect their bags and float Birch Creek with my parents. 

Now it's time to board the plane. We'll fly to Amsterdam, then take a train to Rotterdam, hop onto the metro and walk 300 feet and 9 stories to our apartment, where we'll meet the real estate agent and (quite probably) pass out.

Our phones will not work as of, well, now. I highly suggest Whatsapp to get ahold of us.

Let the adventure begin.

The Final Countdown- part 1

In one week our adventure officially kicks off. Or at least, officially changes venues.

This has been a productive week (largely out of necessity, but also because we like to feel at least a little prepared). We're officially moved out of our apartment. It turns out that when you live in the same place for 3 years, you accumulate more stuff than one might think. 4 Value Village runs, 3 trips to the transfer site, and 2 aggressive attempts to pawn stuff off on our friends later, we have a slightly more manageable amount of stuff.

As we started to put some of our stuff into my parent's attic for storage a couple days ago, Ev noticed that one of the steel plates at the truss joints in the attic was separating. Further preliminary inspection revealed that the attic roof had, for all intents and purposes, catastrophically failed and is no longer structurally sound. After impressing the seriousness of the situation upon my parents, they promised to have the attic inspected by a structural engineer and have a contractor fix it. It's so COOL watching Ev do his thing- recognizing and addressing structural failures like the attic is what he does. Like, exactly what he does professionally. As I said, super cool. I love me a good structural engineer.

So as our days in the US dwindle, we're trying to see everyone.

It's going to be hard leaving all the awesome friends we have here. I suppose that means we should probably stay in touch...

Holy Crap, I Have a LOT of Rocks!

So this packing thing is fully underway. I've been boxing up our stuff (or getting rid of large amounts of it) while Ev finishes up his last week of work. I've also been selling stuff.

Dude, Craigslist is amazing.

So far, I've sold everything I've put up on it with the exception of our couch (speaking of, anyone want a really awesome couch?). The wine rack was up for 20 minutes (for real) before it sold. The rugs are all gone. The bookcase is gone. I even sold my comic books to the guy who bought one of the rugs. He saw the box and went "what are you doing with those?" I've been trying to talk myself into putting them on Craigslist but haven't been able to commit, so after we nerded out for a bit, he offered me a chunk of change for the box. It was hard to see them go, but it's for the best. At least they're with someone who also has a massive comic book collection (a small consolation, I suppose).

The house is starting to look empty.

It's hard to think about doing anything else during the chaos of moving. Getting out to climb or run actually takes some convincing to do (highly unusual). Of course, I'm much more productive and happier with a little exercise, but that doesn't stop it from feeling like time that could be spent packing. Not better spent, mind, just spent differently.

For the record, I have a lot of rocks. Obviously they're not coming with us to the Netherlands, but I'm having a hard time packing them up. There may be something wrong with me.

I feel like I should be putting pictures up, but no one wants to see a house that looks like a hurricane hit it. And I didn't take any before pictures.

Free Time

It’s been a big week. Yesterday was my last day of work. We officially have an apartment in Rotterdam (lease signed, deposit and 1^st month rent paid!). Rachael started med school. Paige shot a gun for the first time. I did my first trad lead. Ev’s brother, Spike, came to visit this weekend.

I guess it’s time to start packing up the apartment. After all, we have 11 days to move out.

And then we leave the country.

For 2 years.

And go back to school.

And get Ev’s visa.

And try out this whole “living in Europe” thing.

I may be developing some anxiety about this. Or reaching new levels of apprehension. Or something.

Obviously, the proper response is to get out and play. Hard (I feel like I’ve been saying “play hard” a lot recently). Packing and moving can happen in the down time when everyone else is at work.

On that note, I need to empty my kitchen. Anyone want to get fed?

Rocks and Roadtrips

There’s something to be said for living in the moment. Playing hard. Doing exactly what you want. Whatever. Ever since we decided to move to Europe, pretty much every weekend has been an adventure of some variety. Want to go climbing after work and get home at 1am? Sure, why not. Go for a long hike? Hell yes. See how lost you can get on a trail run? Always a good time. Sing along to early-2000’s rock in the car? Full volume, please.

For the long weekend, a (large) group of us went to Hatchers Pass for some not-Grapefruit climbing. I think this was the first time I’ve ever car camped, and I must say, it freaking rocked. When you don’t have to pack all of your camping stuff into a backpack, the quality of food skyrockets.

The climbing was, for lack of a better word, amazing. We had 2 days of beautiful blue skies (apparently a rarity), and the company was excellent.

Did I mention it was pretty?

Also, we had an INSANE amount of gear. Like, completely and utterly excessive. Like, "let's go climb El Cap and still have extra gear" amounts of gear.

And a little attitude…

It saddens me to think that this may have been our last big climbing expedition before we leave. Of course, we’ll keep playing hard, both before and after we move. But there’s a lot to be said for having good people to play with. People who make you laugh so hard you have to sit down because you’re getting light-headed, or fall of the wall because of a dick joke.

I have some really awesome people in my life. Actually, I've had really awesome people around me for as long as I can remember. It's kind of, well, awesome. And I know we'll stay in touch when we move, but while we're still here, making memories is fun. Really fun.

Also, it was SO PRETTY (but, as Jesse would say, did you expect it not to be pretty?)!