We’re in Florida and have plenty to share about our moving day and the first weeks in our new home. In this post we cover how we made the 13-hour drive feel faster, which predictions from our last episode proved true, and our honest take on using travel pee bags. Settling into a smaller house brought unexpected challenges, so we describe what surprised us and why downsizing has taken on new meaning. We also recap items we overpacked—even after leaving roughly half our belongings behind—and explain why some of those extras aren’t working in our new space.
You can also find this episode on your favorite podcast app, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, and Spotify.
What’s New
- Our live Instagram updates from moving day are saved to the “Moving Out” story highlight on our IG profile (moving day footage starts about halfway through that highlight).
- While you’re there, check out our “Make Change” highlight, which was inspired by the murder of George Floyd and includes concrete ways to help.
- The photo above was our parting shot of the Richmond house as we pulled out early on moving day.
- Our drive to Florida was about 850 miles and 13.5 hours. It felt much faster thanks to simple celebrations—marking each hour, every 50 miles, and entering a new state helped the time pass and kept spirits high.
- We also played a magnetic license plate game that a neighbor passed on, and it was a big hit. There’s a sticker version with other road-trip activities that’s an inexpensive alternative.
- Travel John portable “pee bags” were a surprisingly useful travel tool. They helped us avoid public restrooms during the pandemic and reduced stops, which saved time.
- If we spot any interesting roadside finds, we’ll try to capture a photo to share.
Updates: Astrocartography
- If you missed our earlier astrocartography conversation, you can find it in the episode titled “That Time A Psychic Came To Our House” (Episode #174).
- We plan to share an update once Sherry’s astrocartography analysis is complete.
- We also discussed a recent article about where celebrity astrologers suggest each star sign should live; Sherry’s recommendation lined up well with her impressions, mine less so.
The Unexpected Side Of Downsizing
- Even after significantly paring down before leaving Virginia, unpacking into a smaller Florida home was challenging. The first ten days looked a lot like the photo above as we found homes for our things.
- Unpacking storage furniture like dressers and bookshelves helped, but optimizing the few closets we have made the biggest difference. Adding an adjustable twin-rail shelving system to the hall linen closet increased functionality without committing to permanent shelf heights.
- The laundry closet arrived empty except for the washer and dryer, so we built a floating countertop above them and installed deep shelves using plywood and pine 1x2s. It’s a quick, functional solution inspired by our pantry shelving approach.
- The countertop and shelves remain raw wood for now; we may seal them to coordinate with the hardwood floors rather than paint. The countertop is mounted on wall braces so it floats above the washer and dryer and can be lifted for access to plugs and hoses if needed.
- Despite the intensity of unpacking, it feels great to have our POD emptied and ready for pickup this week—just as we predicted when we recorded the episode.
We’re Digging
- For Mother’s Day the kids and I ordered two mail-order plants as housewarming gifts for Sherry. We chose The Sill for the quality and presentation—similar in cost to flowers but longer lasting and delivered in attractive pots.
- We ordered a Bird’s Nest Fern in a mint pot and a Marble Queen Pothos in a cream pot. Both arrived in excellent condition and we were impressed with the quality.
- We also had a simple, affordable tub installed in the Florida bathroom—similar to the tubs we used in a previous duplex. It’s roomy enough to stretch out and relax, which has been a welcome upgrade.
If you’re trying to remember an item we discussed on a past episode, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve covered in the “We’re Digging” series, plus a Book Club page listing all the books we’ve recommended.
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