ok, this may seem sudden to some of you, but I am ready to spill the beans: I am moving to Cape Cod (Massachusetts) sometime in August. I am really excited about this decision on so many levels, but the thought that I will need to close down and then pack up my life in a matter of weeks is a bit overwhelming, even for me, queen of project management.
In fact, it kind of makes me want to curl up in the fetal position and cry myself to sleep. At nine in the morning.
I have been debating whether or not to mention it here, but then I thought it could be instructive if I blogged this move. I just created a new category called Cross Country Move, so I can share the resources and strategies I run across (not to mention the feelings that are going to come at me like a freight train!).
If you live in L.A. no worries, The Diva will still be running In Perfect Order from the Cape, my capable and mighty team of Paige, Matt, Hollan and Renette will still available for garages, organizing, personal assisting, interior restyling, packing you up for moves, etc. I will also be returning to take care of my special 'peeps' and if you want to be contacted when I return, just shoot me an email and I will put you on my list.
If you have any tips for me about the following action items, please let me know, I am at the beginning stages of making this all happen:
1. the best and cheapest way to get my stuff across country. I am looking into Amtrak Express (1-800-377-6914) as an option because I had a great experience with them when I moved from Washington to Los Angeles seven years ago. No problems, easy process, reasonable rates. They ship what's known in the biz as LTL (Less Than a truckLoad).
The weird thing about Amtrak Express is that they have so little information on their webpage and their webpage is really hard to find. I called them just now and found out the following:
- they only ship from large city to large city. Luckily, I am going from LA to Boston (in the area, anyway)
- you can't ship electronics, furniture, breakables, artwork. That leaves books and clothes. No problem, I'll use a mixture of methods.
- The boxes can't be larger than 36"x36"x36".
- The boxes can't weigh more than 50 lbs each
- The total cost per shipment cannot exceed $500
- They weigh the whole shipment together. The first 100 lbs costs $67.00, then it's $.57 per lb after that. Not bad, 500 lbs would be $295.00. (67+(400*.57)). That's ten 50 pound boxes, shipped across the country for about $30 each! (or some configuration like that) WOW.
- The journey across takes anywhere from 4-7 days and I have 2 extra days at no charge to pick the items up on the other end. After that, the storage fee is $3.00 per box per day, but for no more than 60 days. (I didn't ask what happens after that)
- The baggage office is open 7 days a week at Union Station downtown LA from 7am to 9pm. That's convenient! (except the downtown part, but I can always go to Chinatown for dinner next door).
I will still need a way to get my mattress and box spring, file cabinets and some artwork to Massachusetts. Any reliable and inexpensive ideas?
2. a good local source for empty packing boxes, free if possible. I am going to put an ad on Craigslist, as well as search the local ads for people wanting to get rid of their moving boxes. I did a search for "used moving boxes los angeles and came up with these options: (both these links are nationwide)
Boxquest.com find and buy cheap moving boxes, including all types of new and used moving boxes at incredibly cheap prices. (good use of keyword phrases, folks!). This would have been great, but the last person that posted there for LA was in March. Dang! I will keep checking back.
UsedCardboardBoxes.com (of course! I should have known!) I just went ahead and ordered their "Average Joe" Studio Kit, since I don't have a lot of stuff. Plus, I figured I could get started with this and pack up the things I don't use very often, my archive files, camping equipment, extra bedding, 
etc. and then see what I need boxes for once these run out. That's the lovely thing about not procrasinating!
This "Average Joe" kit comes with 17 boxes, including our re-usable shipping box, which is great for pictures and mirrors. (total cost $37.89 with CA tax)
- 9 Medium Boxes (approx 2 cubic feet)
- 5 Large Boxes (approx 3-3.5 cubic feet)
- 2 X-Large Boxes (4.5+ cubic feet)
- 1 Roll Packing Tape (2 inch x 55 yards)
- 3 Pounds of Packing Paper
(approx 50 sheets of 36 x 24 inches) - 1 Sharpie® Marker
- 1 Safe Box Opener
(orders placed before 3pm arrive in 1-2 business days) - FREE SHIPPING!!!
UPDATE! Thanks to one of my fabulous readers, I just got a tip for an excellent source for cardboard moving boxes: Costco! (use the link or go to Costco.com and type in "moving" in the search box). Some great deals for larger spaces can be found there. Thanks, Mindy!
3. Places to stay on my drive across America. I am not sure which route I will be taking, but if you live near an interstate and feel like having me over, let me know!
4. Fun/cool/amazing/gorgeous places to stop along the way. More on this later once I have decided the route.
I still have to make decisions about my car, my route, my departure date, my phone numbers, a lot of stuff, but it's all good, 'cause it feels like I am going HOME and that makes me breathe so much easier. I am not a city girl, never have been, and the Atlantic Coast is my place, especially that area. I feel like all my cells are happy when I am there breathing the salt breeze and smelling the air in the fall when people have fires in their fireplaces and crunching in the snow. Everyone raves about the weather in Southern California, but for me, anything over 75 degrees (F) is too darn hot!
ok, now, I usually sign off, 'remember, I am on YOUR team', but this time I am asking that YOU be on MY team!
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ Jessica -:¦:-
