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Is that a train whistle I hear?

By
Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

Moving sucks.  Have I mentioned that before?  And we're kinda in the "moving business"... or at the very least the helping our clients into a position where they will need to move, and moving sucks.

Having recently moved, at least most of me is moved, I can attest to the major suckage caused by taking all of your "stuff" (as George Carlin was wont to refer to it) from one place, to another place.  And space abhors a vacuum.

So, with most of the mega-suckage behind me, I thought that I was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  It turns out that the light at the end of the tunnel, is really the headlight of an oncoming train.

I thought I planned this out... I really did... allowing for many potential problems.

I called, well in advance, and talked to my cable/interwebs provider to cancel the service from my former home, and to set up the service in my new home.  Lord knows that we just can't be "unconnected" in these modern times.

Lo and behold (that's right... not just "Lo", but behold as well)... I arrive at the new place of residence, only to find that I am no longer connected to the information superhighway, let alone television.  My hours long conversation with the brain trust at the other end of the line fruitless, pointless, worthless... and many other "lesses", that you can think of.

They are sending someone out Monday to reconnect me.  Meanwhile, lest you think that I am typing all of this kvetching on my cell phone, I am connected to the internet via my high-tech gadget (which I think impressed even my daughter), my KarmaGo. (if you wanna impress your teenager, click on the KarmaGo link).

Phew... I needed to get my Rain-fix.

Posted by

 ALAN MAY, Realtor®   
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty, 2934 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
Office: 847.869.7300      Cell: 847.924.3313      Email: Almay@aol.com

Evanston Real Estate & North Shore Real Estate
Licensed in Illinois

   

Comments(29)

Women of Westchester Working Together
Women of Westchester Working Together - West Harrison, NY
Women helping Women get ahead

Oh gosh, one of my least favorite activities.  The end is in sight.

Apr 16, 2016 07:52 PM
Alan May

I'll keep repeating that to myself.  The end is in sight, the end is in sight, I have no insight in the end, there is no end....


Wait.... what?!

Apr 16, 2016 10:36 PM
Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

As we all know moving is a pain you know where!!! The last move I experienced was 30 years ago and it wasn't unpleasant!!!

Apr 16, 2016 10:05 PM
Alan May

I am familiar with "where" moving is a pain.

Apr 16, 2016 10:36 PM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Alan, I know when we move (someday) it'll be more than a little challenging just on the basis of the cats, dogs and three aquariums.  I suspect we will have fish casualties (the cats say just give them to us, we'll handle it!).

Apr 16, 2016 10:37 PM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Fish are surprisingly more sensitive to change, than the rest of their compatriots.  Dogs are highly adaptable, and will go where ever their masters go, and other than the occasional strange noise, won't seem phased.  Cats, on the other paw, will simply spend months finding new corners to sniff, new windows to gaze out upon, new boxes to conquer, and fresh dust-bunnies to stalk.

Apr 16, 2016 10:48 PM
Erica Love
Brokers Guild Cherry Creek - Colorado Springs, CO

Moving, packing and unpacking (and dealing with cable and internet) definitely sucks. Once the kitchen is unpacked I always feel like the end is in sight. I have never heard of karmago either I will have to look into it. Congrats on the new house!

Apr 16, 2016 11:09 PM
Alan May

Fortunately, Erica, my daughter came over last night to help unpack the kitchen... still a long way to go, but I'm making progress.

Apr 16, 2016 11:48 PM
Ron Tissier
Chapman Hall Premier Realtors (404) 580-9069 - Atlanta, GA
Defining Homes. Defining Lifestyles.

Timely post Alan!  I'll be making a local move in a couple of months and I plan to have a big moving sale and get rid of most of my stuff.  I call it "stuff" because that's what it is.  Material things with little meaning or sentimental value.  I'm a minimalist by nature, so throwing things out comes easy to me and should make for a less than full moving van.  Hopefully, my transfered internet and tv services/connections are in place when I get there.

Cheers!

Apr 16, 2016 11:45 PM
Alan May

It might have been easier, had I just thrown everything away, and started over with new "stuff".

Apr 16, 2016 11:48 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

You wield the term "suckage" like an artist/poet. May we all travel suckage free

Apr 17, 2016 12:12 AM
Alan May

It's a powerful term.  Full of juicy verbiage.

Apr 17, 2016 05:00 AM
Shirley Coomer
Keller Williams Realty Sonoran Living - Phoenix, AZ
Realtor, Keller Williams Realty, Phoenix Az

Moving is like a real estate transaction, checking, follow-up, checking again, etc.  I have have to introduce the word "suckage"....  Hope once you get reconnected with the world you enjoy your new home!

Apr 17, 2016 12:27 AM
Alan May

I'm working on it, Shirley.  I'm working on it.

Apr 17, 2016 05:00 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Alan, The trifecta of suckage ... I thought you were going to tell me you moved to a house behind a train track.  

Apr 17, 2016 01:13 AM
Alan May

Well, that would just suck tremendously, wouldn't it?  Although in that case, I'd have nobody to blame but myself, would I?

Apr 17, 2016 05:01 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Hi Alan, not having internet is a definite NO for most, even more frustrating when you set it up in advance. I've never heard of Karmago, great option to have 

Apr 17, 2016 01:21 AM
Alan May

I hadn't hear of KarmaGo, either... but a techie-client who moved last year was using it in his, then-vacant, home.. and it impressed me.

Apr 17, 2016 05:02 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

The hours long phone conversation could have been easily avoided if the brain trust at the other end would have simply said "We are sending someone out on Monday."  

Apr 17, 2016 02:16 AM
Alan May

Shouldn't have been necessary... but you're right.  We could have forgone the joy of the multi-hours conversation.

Apr 17, 2016 05:02 AM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

I haven't moved for twelve years. I'm not sure how I can contemplate moving any time soon. I feel your pain 

Apr 17, 2016 02:32 AM
Alan May

I wouldn't wish it on anyone... well, now wait a minute... that would put me outta business, wouldn't it?

Apr 17, 2016 05:03 AM
Dan Tabit
Keller Williams Bellevue - Sammamish, WA

Thanks for not calling me to help, I'm sure I was busy that day, but probably would have shown up just after the work was done but in time for the pizza.  

Apr 17, 2016 05:47 AM
Alan May

Fear not, the days of "the midnight movers" who are paid in pizza and beer are long gone.  I value my furniture (and my back) far too much... and I'm at a point where I can afford to pay someone else to do the heavy lifting.  Worth every single penny.

Apr 17, 2016 08:23 AM
Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

I never laughed so much as when I heard George Carlin's "stuff" routine. Unfortunately, moving means we have to deal with it.

Apr 17, 2016 08:06 AM
Alan May

He was your hippy-dippy-weatherman.

Apr 17, 2016 08:23 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Moving is no fun. But, it does allow you to get all your stuff to a new place and start anew, and eventually that place becomes home. No Internet would definitely mess me up.

Apr 17, 2016 09:12 AM
Alan May

It doesn't much feel like home without internet... odd, isn't that?

Apr 17, 2016 10:09 AM
Sussie Sutton
David Tracy Real Estate - Houston, TX
David Tracy Real Estate for Buyers & Sellers

I hate being without Internet or the TV... that is almost the end of the world.

Apr 17, 2016 10:08 AM
Alan May

I wouldn't go quite that far... I'm getting a lot of reading done.

Apr 17, 2016 10:09 AM
Karen Feltman
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA KW Legacy Group - Cedar Rapids, IA
Relocation Specialist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

There is a lot of angst in moving.  Even with the best laid plans, listening to our own sage advice about getting things set in advance and BOOM!  Someone else on the other end dropped the ball and we are the ones that pay the price for their "mistake".  Sigh...all you can do is type on your cell phone and count the days until you are back to "normal" again.  Well, as normal as you can get anyway!  The end is in sight!!!!

Apr 17, 2016 11:31 AM
Alan May

You are right about that... my cable/wi-fi provider arrived today, and after a three-hour visit, finally got my service back up.  I have television and wi-fi again.  Woo hoo!

Apr 18, 2016 01:05 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

I haven't packed the boxes in over 20 years and I know it will have to be done again in the not too distant future., and I am already getting nervous about it and we haven't talked about it yet

Apr 18, 2016 12:30 PM
Alan May

The boxes haven't change much... but I sure have.

Apr 18, 2016 01:05 PM
Jon Kolsky
Kolsky Realty & Management - Long Beach, CA
Licensed California Real Estate Broker

Alan May ~ moving is a chore that most dread, especially when things (no connection and no TV) go astray. Thankfully, you have your trusty smart-phone to pick up the slack....

Apr 19, 2016 01:47 AM
Alan May

my trusty smart phone was a God-send, but it can only handle so much... I much prefer the full screen of my laptop.

Apr 19, 2016 12:45 PM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

My most favorite thing about my recent move was getting rid of boxloads, carloads, truckloads of STUFF. We toured a downtown mansion today, and all I could think of was I must really be getting old because nothing about having that much space was appealing any more. Hope it's "home" soon!

Apr 19, 2016 11:30 AM
Alan May

... and the full interior design of your daughter's room... as I recall.  Very cute.

Apr 19, 2016 12:46 PM