Dreaming of Retirement

While I love my job, I sometimes find myself sitting around and thinking of retirement. This usually happens most  after I've returned from a vacation. I think about where we will live, what we will do and how we will fill our days instead of going to work. 

1. Texas

Texas has two major points in its favor when it comes to money. Texans don't have to pay personal income tax. That's a big savings! The other of your a Veteran you don't have to pay as much property tax and in some cases none! Thanks to my husbands service we would pay less. 


2. San Diego, California.

I recently went to San Diego for work and then back again for Comic Con and I loved it! My husband was equally impressed with it. The weather is amazing all year long, the traffic is nothing like bigger cities such as Los Angeles and things were overly expensive (OK fine the houses might be a little high for the square footage). We already live in California so the move wouldn't be a huge journey to another state. We wouldn't have to change our tags, etc so the headache would be a little smaller.


3. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

I love it there. I've always loved it there. When I took my husband there in June he loved it too. I grew up going there and taking trips with my mom so of course it holds tons of sentimental value. There is always something to do, somewhere to go eat and some place to shop. My favorite stores such as A Christmas Place is there so I'm pretty for sure I would go completely nuts over the holidays. What little sanity I have left would escape because I would get a part time job there to feed my Christmas addiction.


4. Hawaii.

We would unclutter and not take all of our junk. We would be living the island life. The beaches, the sun, the tropics. The only draw backs tourists non stop, sunburns, not being super close to amazing medicine (I feel like here I can be airlifted anywhere). Plus I've done some digging and it's extremely pricey to retire to Hawaii. The tax breaks aren't as great as other states but hey... in the end it's Hawaii.


5. Sacramento, California.

We could stay put where we are. We already have a home and hopefully by then it will be paid off. We always talk about getting one of those really small drivable RVs and driving around the country to see things. We have a few decades to figure it out but hey... it's fun to think about and you never know we could win the lottery and make it happen sooner rather than later.

Buying and Selling

A little over a week ago, we decided on a whim to go look at a house that Beezy found online and our realtor (who I've remained in contact with since I bought my house) said let's go. We didn't know if it would be everything that it was from online and in the photos. It sounded and looked like it was but we didn't want to get our hopes up. Since November we have been toying with the idea of moving. You see... my street use to be super quiet. Then a house down the street became a rental property and every day since it got rented out we hear music pumping non stop. I'm talking music so loud we hear it 4 houses down on the opposite side of the street and across the intersection of a four way stop. Every. single. gang slur. and note in the music. We've called the non emergency number a handful of times. All they do is talk to them. We've looked up the owner of the house but it's in some kind of living trust. Needless to say, we are OVER it.

So when we went to look at this house that had just been built we were being cautiously optimistic. We wanted to like it but at the same time we didn't know if we were ready. So we get to the development and walked through the house. We loved the amount of space the house offered but we hated the kitchen counters and the cabinets. The builders had built the house with having any buyers so they completely finished it without a buyer selecting each fixture etc. The kitchen really did it for us and we were getting ready to leave with our hopes dashed. That's when their sales agent let us know that a house exactly like the one we had just walked through was in the middle of construction and hadn't had the kitchen completed yet. Our eyes and ears immediately perked up. She walked us the few doors down the new block and we walked through a house in mid construction. We actually loved this house!

That was on a Sunday. On Monday we made them an offer. Tuesday we had to list our house and by Friday we were having photos taken for the listing. Now we are surrounded in boxes (ok fine we aren't really surrounded because we've shoved them into one room but you get what I mean) and my house is on MLS. We are trying to time this whole thing to work out for when the new house will be completed with construction. We do not want to move twice. It's all going to depend on how fast we get a buyer and how fast they complete the house. We know that they will be done with the new house in April. Now it's just to see how long it takes to find a buyer for our current home. Since the two most comparable houses in the area sold within 2 and 5 days of going on the market it could get really crazy around here.

We are under contract and now we just have to get my house sold.

 

This house just has so much we really wanted and were looking for that we couldn't pass it up. And the best part we already have equity in the home because they raised their prices a few days after we went into contract!

I never feel comfortable until we are signed, sealed and delivered. So I will finally be able to relax once we close on the new house. Until then we have a long 7 weeks ahead. I feel like I'm kind of a pro at moving and packing since I did a cross country move. This time though, I feel like we are scrambling for boxes and packing paper and tape lol. I feel like the rug is going to ripped out from under us. Maybe it's just the hurry up and wait that's going on? Who knows but either way it's going to be an interesting Easter around these parts.

One

Today marks my one year anniversary of moving to California.

Let that sink in. (You can catch up on all the moving, waiting etc here and here)

Can you believe it's already been a year? It's crazy how fast time flies. Most days it doesn't feel like I've lived here for a year, other times it feels like I've lived here a lot longer. Some days I'll be driving down the road and think, "Wow! I live in California now. I'm on the west coast and in a completely different time zone than most people I know." It's crazy to comprehend a lot of the days.

When I first moved to Sacramento, I only knew one person. I had to make friends and put myself out there with people. In the year that I've been here I feel like I've surrounded myself with some good people. I've also been able to get out there and participate in some fun activities. I've traveled to places that I wouldn't have been able to so easily while living on the east coast. I experienced what it was like to mow the grass in February. I've experienced what it's like to take care of a house all on my own, etc.

While some days are more fun than others, I miss a lot of my east coast friends and family. I can't wait till the day that they are out here. Until then I'm going to keep on moving forward and hope for a better tomorrow. This year has definitely been a learning year.

California Dreaming

It happened again. I had a moment where I thought, "Oh my God, I'm in California."

I've been having a lot of these moments lately and I don't know why. This one hit me when I was driving home from work. The sky was about seven shades of pink and purple and it just looked amazing. That's when it hit me....I live in California. I'm on the west coast and I bought a home here. When it hits me it's like someone threw a brick at me. I can't believe it. I can't believe it all finally happened, the way it happened and what's unfolded since then. 


If I've learned anything in the last few months it's that you can't plan everything. You just have to let go and learn to do only what you can. Some things will be simple while other things will feel like you're climbing up a mountain. There will be days that are hard and then there will be days that you never want to end. 

I've had a lot of hard days. I moved here only knowing one person in this entire city. I had to take care of an entire house myself. I had to do things I had never done before. I had to learn how to use power tools and mow my enormous lawn. I was the only person to take out the trash and separate the recycling. I learned to cook more than just breakfast foods and pasta. I started to hone my baking skills. 

The hard days are starting to get fewer and farther between. Do I miss my mom and friends? Of course. Some nights when I'm home alone, I could cry if I think about it too much but then I decide that I moved out here for a reason. I wanted a better life for myself. I've started to make some friends and I've started getting invited to a few things. It feels good. I've started to put myself out there and I've learned when you do that, that's when you finally started to make friends and see things in a new light. 

Toto, I Don't Think We're In Kansas Anymore

I've been living in Sacramento since the end of August. It's been over three months since I left West Virginia and to say that I'm missing my friends and family is an understatement. I'm not going to lie, some days are really hard and then others are easy. When I first got here, I was on a great work schedule. I was with people who were really friendly and made an effort to help me feel like I wasn't the new girl. The pace of work wasn't overwhelming and it felt like a great fit. Then we bid on new schedules and I got stuck with the only one left.

I've been on my new schedule since October and to say that it's been nice would be a big fat lie. Getting up in the morning isn't even the worst part. I have to get up most mornings by 2:15 a.m. and that's not because of my commute. It's because I have to be literally working at 3:15 (yes, you read that right... AM). The pace is grueling. I'll end up standing almost the entire day and speaking for more than half of it. I've had to talk so much at work that when I get off work, I don't even feel like talking to anyone on the phone to let them know I'm on the way home. 

The people on this shift... they make fun of my east coast accent. Most people in the beginning were like, "Oh that's cute, you have an accent that isn't from around here." However, some of these people like to pretend to mimic it as they talk back to me. Um... last time I checked this isn't 7th grade. Most of the time I shrug it off but at 3:15 in the morning it tends to rake the nerves a little bit. But as my mom has taught me, Smile at them and say nothing. Killing with kindness kids! For the majority though other coworkers have been nice or at least made the attempt to be nice to me.

Did I mention when I basically got forced to go to the morning shift that I was also losing money because of it? Yep! Sure am! The only days off with this schedule included a Sunday. Well that's all fine and great if you want a Sunday off but I don't. I've always worked Sundays. Want to know why? We get a little thing called, Sunday differential. AKA they pay more for you to work that day. I got my most recent paycheck and it was a noticeable difference. Home girl has bills to pay! When you are six figures in debt with a house payment, car payment and credit card bills then every dollar counts. Definitely during the holiday season.

Apart from the whole work thing making me almost cry on a daily basis. I'm just tired of being alone a lot of the time. I wish my family was here. I'm ready to see everyone and for them to be here. I don't have any friends here so I basically have become an expert cleaner and crafter. Do you live in Sacramento? Let's be friends and hang out! I'm trying to see the good in everything and strive to make the most out of this move. Some days just seem more hard than others. It could be because it's the holidays and that's my favorite time of the year and this year has been different. BUT I know that good things will come. I'll hopefully either get a promotion soon and if not maybe I'll even find another job that will allow me to sleep past 2:15 am and make twice as much money. Hey a girl can dream right? In the meantime keep me in your good thoughts.

Home Tour: The Before

Before we began moving everything into the house, I've got photos to show how it all looked. There's three other bedrooms here not photographed and my master bath. The bedrooms were all newly painted and brand new carpet. In the living room/dining room and kitchen there is brand new hardwood flooring. The bathrooms both have been freshly painted and tiled. I also lucked out with new ceiling fans, stainless steel appliances in the kitchen and a jacuzzi tub in one of the bathrooms! 

entry way/living room

dining area connected to the living area

Kitchen

Another view of the kitchen

One of the 4 bedrooms.

The hall bathroom with a jacuzzi tub.

Once we started bringing in the boxes... oh my! It was instant clutter and chaos. 

Please tell me most people's living rooms look like this that first day of moving in. 

Now I just have to finish unpacking a few more things and hang more on the walls and then I can show you the after photos! I might show the progress tomorrow. It's slowly coming together. Hopefully, I can get everything unboxed by Thursday or Friday. 

Alive & Well: The Move to California!

Knock knock! Look who's back! 

I've finally got internet now so I can post an update. The last time I posted I was leaving Huntington, West Virginia and heading west to Sacramento, California. I can tell you that we made it without any problems. 

On Friday, August 17th we loaded up the truck. We had reserved a 12 foot Penske truck and let me tell you, we used every single inch of space in that truck.The day started out really good. We were getting the truck loaded pretty quickly, securing everything down and trying to make sure that we had room for everything. We knew that the amount of space was going to be tight for everything that we were hoping to load. As the time went on, it started to rain as we were loading. Thank goodness the rain stopped after about 30 minutes. We couldn't get in some bookshelves, night stand and one other piece of furniture but I think we did pretty well for the amount of space that we had. 

 

The next morning, Saturday, August 18th we hit the road at 9:30am. When I say, "we" I mean my mom's boyfriend Shayne and I.

The first day our goal was to make it to Springfield, Missouri. I drove my car while Shayne drove the truck. We drove for around 11 hours and made it to Springfield. I was emotionally and physically exhausted because I had said goodbye to people that I loved and had been in the car for so long. 

The second day we were shooting for Amarillo, Texas. We made it in good time and we were able to have a little fun for dinner. We hit up the Big Texas Steakhouse. If you're ever in Amarillo, I recommend this place. It was a lot of fun and affordable. The food was really good too. 

The third day we made it to Flagstaff, Arizona. By this point I had acquired a sore throat. I don't know if it was from being in so many different climates so fast, the freezing hotel rooms or just being run down but I definitely caught a sore throat/head cold. 

The fourth day we made it all the way through the desert and spent the night in Bakersfield, California. I had never been so happy to make it to a hotel. The desert is NO joke people. It's hot, hot and hot! We had to stop multiple times because we were so hot. The stopping points are also really spread out from Flagstaff to Bakersfield so when you see a gas station... STOP! You might not find one again for quite a few miles. 

On the fifth day of driving Wednesday, August 22nd we finally made it to the house! We were hot, tired and still had a lot to do. My realtor Kim met us with the key and we got started on unloading the truck. 

More on the house and unpacking tomorrow! 

So Long, Farewell

Tomorrow is the day!

15 months after requesting a transfer, I am packed up. The truck is loaded with all of my worldly possessions and we are hitting the road. The drive to my new home of Sacramento will be 2,583 miles.

We've decided to break the drive into five days. We haven't set all of the stops in stone because basically we'll be seeing how we feel each day and how much longer we can stand to be on the road and in the car. I know we're shooting for St. Louis, Missouri for that first night. That's around 8-9 hours of driving and with a truck and car that's a lot of driving. 

Some people may ask, why not take the northern route? Well from what I've heard from a few people who've driven across the country before, with a truck it can be slow going once you hit the mountains. The northern route also makes me wonder about the frequency of gas stations. Want to know how many miles to the gallon the moving truck gets? Oh that would be a whopping 8-10 miles. No wonder the price of everything is rising! It's the truck gas we're all paying for now. So the southern route it is then! 

During this drive, I wish for 3 things...

1. I wish for us to get there safely and without any incidents of sickness or thefts. 

2. I wish for mental piece. I hope to feel 100% confident in the choices that are being made. I'm really close to 100% but with such big life changes, I assume there's always that little bit of doubt that creeps inside.

3. To see some of the USA and make a memory that will last forever. 

Catch all of you on the flip side! West Coast Bound!!

Down to the Wire

Yep that's me on the inside right now. 

I've been a steaming hot mess. There's the packing, trying to close on the house, the fact that I'm suppose to leave this weekend to move across the country. Figuring out all of the financials, getting utilities turned on, booking hotels along the way...

The list goes on and on my friends. 

I've also learned that not only am I already poor, I'll now be destitute once I move. Moving isn't cheap and moving across the country doesn't make it any less expensive. Also buying a house is not cheap at all.....

Like I might be so poor now that I can't have cable. As in I may not have internet either. Ek! Let's all keep our fingers crossed that I can figure it out. I feel like I might be scouting out an extra part time job once I get there. 

An Ugly Word: Stress

In the last few weeks, I have experienced feeling a large amount of stress. I think that it's normal considering the situation that I'm currently going through...


I'm working 5-6 days a week. 
I'm trying to pack all of my belongings to move. 
I had to figure out and reserve a moving truck. 
I'm trying to close on a new home. 
I'm reviewing, faxing, emailing, signing said home documents everyday.
I am going through yearly tests at work. 
I'm watching my savings account slowly dwindle (nothing is cheap folks).


Yesterday the stress shot through the roof. One of the above mentioned things went completely down hill and I had a breakdown. Like sobs came out of me. 


That was yesterday. 


Now I have to get back up on the horse and just try to keep moving forward. I have to keep boxing things up, I have to keep signing documents and I have to pass tests. 


I must do this. 
I can do this. 

The Best Part of Moving

One of the best things about moving is getting new stuff! 


As I've been packing up my belongings to move cross country in August, I've noticed a few things are missing. So I went to Amazon and made myself a little list. As the days have went on the list has become longer and longer. 


Here's a few little beauties that I'd love to get for my new home...

Egyptian Cotton Towels

A goblet and pitcher drinking set

Orange Utensil Set

Aren't all of those super cute? I want! I want! Anyways, it'll take me forever to get everything on my list because moving isn't cheap people. If you'd like to see my entire wish list (or totally buy me something.. ha) take a look at it here . 

From Breakdowns to Happiness

3 days
17 home viewings
1 apartment viewing
5 home offers submitted


I spent three very stressful and exhausting days going through 17 homes all over Sacramento, California. I cried. I laughed. I had an extreme meltdown. 


I had viewed homes all Thursday afternoon and all day Friday. I had only seen one home that I loved enough to put an offer on. The rest I was kinda iffy on. By Friday evening I had found out that I had been out bid on the home I loved and that it was going into contract with someone else. Cue the freak out. 


Saturday morning, I got up and went to look at three of the homes again that I had seen on Friday. Since I was leaving in only a few hours I figured I might as well. I thought they were nice and I went ahead and put in offers. Then my realtor told me about a house that had just came on the market at midnight. We thought, "What do we have to lose? Let's go look at it!"


We got in the car and from the moment we got there I liked it. We walked inside and I loved it. The backyard is huge and has so much potential. The kitchen was completely new with granite counter tops and new stainless steel appliances. New hardwood floors, new carpet and new paint. Here was the problem though.... they were asking the max of what I could get a loan on so I knew I could only offer their asking. Why is that a problem? Oh because it's a bidding war on real estate right now in Sacramento thanks to investors. 


So we went back to the realtors office, wrote the offer for the asking amount and 17 extra dollars (my birth date). I thanked my realtor for all of her hard work, got on a plane to go home and crossed my fingers that at least one of my offers would get accepted. All the while secretly hoping that I'd get that last house. 


Yesterday afternoon my realtor called, "Jennifer! How much did you like the house on ____ Drive?" I loved it, Why? "Well it's yours! They accepted your offer!"


I have a home people! We are set to close in 30 days so let's cross our fingers that everything goes great and that come next month Josh and I will be moving into our home together!! 

Isn't it cute?! Sneak peek! 

The Hunt Is On!

Today I'm in....

I'm on the hunt for a place to live! I've been working with a realtor since finding out that I got my transfer and now the day of visiting houses is finally here. I'm hoping I can find a great house this weekend and get my offer in and it be accepted! 

The housing market in Sacramento is insane. Houses aren't staying on the market long (as in a week) and are often going for more than the listing prices. If you've ever bought a home then you already know it's a long, tricky process so this doesn't help the process. 

Let's all cross our fingers and toes... and anything else you can that I find a great place that I love!

Another Full Time Job

Planning a move that is long distance has become a second full time job.

If you've ever moved then you know exactly what I'm talking about. I waited over a year to finally get to move and in that time, I could only so much to prepare. Now that I actually know the exact days of moving the pressure is on. 


I have been full go since finding out and have been trying to check things off my list. I have so much to do still and a few things are still up in the air. As some of you probably already know because of twitter, I'm trying to buy a house in Sacramento. The housing prices are lower than they have been for years and the rates are the lowest they've ever been. Plus I'm a firm believer of putting my money into something I'll own instead of paying rent and it not being mine.


So far I've been packing and going through clothing. I've also booked a moving truck. I got one where they drive it across country for me and that scares me to no end! I won't actually see my stuff for almost a week and it'll just be out there in the world. Crossing fingers that nothing goes missing! (the company I'm using was actually recommended to someone I know who used them about a year ago).


The biggest thing that still needs to be done is finding a place to live. I've got my lender ready and my realtor has been sending me houses. In two weeks I'm going to fly out and spend two days looking at houses non stop. I'm praying that I can find a home that I love in those 48 hours and get my offer in and it be accepted. Once I've got that in place I'll feel so much better! 


Any advice? I'm learning really quickly that I need to get rid of a lot of stuff and only taking what I'm really not willing to part with. The move gets closer day by day!

Now Comes the Fear

Moving 2,600 miles away, buying a home and leaving everything you know and are comfortable in tends to bring a little fear with it. It also brings the self doubt. Will I make new friends? Will I still keep the relationships with the friends I have now? Will I love it there? Will I be sad or happy? What if I hate it but trapped there? The list can go on and on. 


At the same time, I believe that you can't live your life in fear. You can't let the fear take over. You have to fight the fear to really live. Sometimes you'll make decisions that aren't right but you learn from them and move on. You can't be afraid to make a change. I found these quotes and they made me feel a little better. No matter what you're going through, maybe they'll help....

Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears. ~Les Brown

The first and great commandment is: Don't let them scare you. ~Elmer Davis

I have accepted fear as a part of life – specifically the fear of change…. I have gone ahead despite the pounding in the heart that says: turn back.  ~Erica Jong

Do not let your fears choose your destiny. ~ Unknown

Fear is never a reason for quitting; it is only an excuse. ~Norman Vincent Peale 

Ultimately we know deeply that the other side of every fear is freedom. ~Mary Ferguson

Where fear is, happiness is not. ~Seneca

Fear is a habit, so is self-pity, defeat, anxiety, despair, hopelessness and resigination. You can eliminate all of these negative habits with two simple resolves," I can! and I will!" 

Do what you fear most and you control fear. Tom Hopkins

Procrastination is the fear of success. People procrastinate because they are afraid of the success that they know will result if they move ahead now. Because success is heavy, carries a responsibility with it, it is much easier to procrastinate and live on the 'someday I'll' philosophy. Denis Waitley

Fear is faith that it won't work out. 

There are four ways you can handle fear. You can go over it, under it, or around it. But if you are ever to put fear behind you, you must walk straight through it. Once you put fear behind you. Leave it there. ~Donna Favor

Confront your fears, list them, get to know them, and only then will you be able to put them aside and move ahead. ~Jerry Gille

They Say It's My Birthday

Sunday is my 28th Birthday

Incase you missed it, on Tuesday I got an early Birthday present and was told that my transfer went through and I will be moving in August to Sacramento, California. 

I feel incredibly blessed because in my 28 years of life I have been given a loving family, great friends who feel like family.


Now as my life begins a new chapter in these coming months, I realize more than ever that the really important things come to those who sit and wait. The old saying, "Patience is a virtue" could not be anymore true. Also if I had to admit, the phrase, "Everything Happens for a Reason" is also ringing deafeningly loud. 

 

If I had moved this time last year, I wouldn't have had enough money in the bank to get a home loan. I would have missed out on the birth of Baby Olivia. I wouldn't have got to go to Memphis for Elvis Week. I wouldn't have got to spend a fun summer with my bestie Erica. I would have missed out on a lot. 

To say that this birthday is a big one doesn't cover it. Not only is it another year older but it's another year wiser. It's the beginning of something new and fresh. It's going to be a year of firsts. I hope you all stay along for the crazy ride that's about to begin. 

It's OFFICIAL I'm Moving!

This is the most exciting and scary post I have ever had the pleasure of writing. 


On March 17, 2011 I placed myself on the transfer list at my job and set the location on three choices: Long Beach, California, Burbank, CA and Sacramento, CA with Sacramento being my top choice. 

Yesterday after the long wait and when I was least expecting it, I got the phone call. I was at a work training event and almost didn't pick up the phone call because I thought it was a tele-marketer call. When they offered me the spot I was so thrilled. I didn't cry, I didn't get sad, I was just thrilled that after such a long wait and after thinking last month that they wouldn't call ever that it finally really did happen. 


As the day went on, I started thinking about all the people and things that I'd leave behind and I did feel a tiny bit sad. Then the fear set in. What if I go broke moving? OMG, I won't know anyone! What if I hate my new work place? What schedule will I be working? I have no place to live right now! And so on and so on. Then I took a deep breath.


I have to take it one day at a time. I have eight weeks to box up my stuff, get a moving van, find a new place to live, etc. I'm going to take it one day at a time because that's the only way I know how to do it. When I feel the fear taking over, I have to remember that everyone has to take a leap of faith for something amazing to happen. 


So it's official... I am MOVING to CALIFORNIA in August. 


PS: if anyone has done a cross country move and has suggestions please feel free to pass them on. 

A Twist on my Transfer/Move

If you missed my last update on my work transfer and moving you can find that post here . 


This post is now what's come after that. It's now been 424 days since I turned in my transfer and how long I have been waiting to move. The good news is that I was told that I'm still sitting at number one on the wait list and that the next available spot would be mine. The bad news is that they told me they had no idea when they would pull from the list and that for the foreseeable future they will only be taking part time people. 


Umm.... part time? Who can afford to live anywhere in the USA let alone the state of California on a part time salary? I know I can't. So their decision to only take part time people has made me reevaluate what I'm going to do. You see, as an employee in my current job, I can have 3 open transfer requests in at the same time. The entire 424 days I have had three California locations listed: Sacramento, Burbank and Long Beach. 


As of right now yes, I'm number one on the transfer list for Sacramento but as for the other two I am very far down as in the 20's and 30's. Those numbers are after waiting 424 days. So I've made the ultimate decision to remove Long Beach and replace it with one of these locations...

Seattle

or

Las Vegas

I just can't decide which one to put on the list. To me they both have their plus and negatives. I've been to Vegas a few times but not Seattle. There's something about it though that draws it to me. If any of you have ever lived in either of these cities or currently do, please e-mail me (jmomiller@gmail.com) and give me your opinions. I need all the advice that I can get! 

Until I decide which city to replace Long Beach with I will still be sitting on the list for Sacramento and Burbank. Here's to crossing your fingers!