Chaos, Panic, and Disorder.

The usual joke is to follow that statement with "My work here is done".  Would that I could.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I've been planning on moving to the Seattle area.  And in less than three weeks, that went from "calling apartment complexes" to "applying for an apartment" to "getting the apartment" to "getting ready to leave".  That time includes both giving notice for and quitting the job I've held for more than ten years.

I like to think I'm pretty open to change, but going from hearing "Yes, we have an apartment available" to saying "Hi, I'm here for my apartment" in nineteen days?  That's a lot to do in not much time.  >_<

My boss was, of course, sad to see me leave, though she liked that I went all official when handing in my notice.  Granted, at the time I expected to leave the job forever on the 27th, not New Mexico.  I left my job forever this past Monday.  It was really weird to walk out of there for the last time, though I did make sure to leave my boss laughing.

Also, I started packing last Wednesday and only finished yesterday.  I tackled the bookshelves first, since most of what I own is books.  Over four hundred volumes packed into over two dozen boxes later, I felt like I'd cleared the first major hurdle.  (I've since consolidated the book boxes, but still.)  Most of the rest of my packing has just been stuffing everything into boxes and making sure it will survive the journey.

The movers come tomorrow, and I leave on Friday.  It's insane to think it all happened so quickly, and that it's taken me this long to get out of here.  Living in Albuquerque hasn't been bad for me, but I don't know if I've ever really been happy here.  It's been a learning experience, to be sure - this is the longest I've lived in one place since I left home for college, and the longest I've ever had the same job.  Amazing what staying put can do for you, eh?

Over those nearly eleven years, I finished the book I was writing when I came here, and wrote nine others.  Most of them were bad.  :P  But I learned from everything I wrote.  And I honestly do feel like I'm getting better.

Or at least, I would if I could get anything done.  >_<  The stress from packing and preparing and all that has had me so wound up that I can hardly even think to plot.  I wrote the Shiloh & Alexi story from earlier this month before I made the call that led to me getting the apartment, which is good, otherwise that story probably never would have happened.  I don't need a life free of stress to write, but I do need to be able to clear my head and focus on the story.  And I just haven't been able to do that for the past few weeks.  I've tried, but when it doesn't work, it doesn't work.

But in two days, I'll head out.  I'll make that good long road trip, and hopefully clear my head along the way.  And when I'm there, in my new place, I'll have a few days where my only worries will be learning about my new home and hoping my stuff arrives soon.  So hopefully then, I'll be able to relax, and I can get started again.

Not sure about next week's entry - I should have an internet connection by the 4th, so hopefully I'll be ready to drop some would-be wisdom for IWSG.  Wish me luck, and I'll see y'all on the other side of 1,425 miles.