When the Dust Settles

Last night, Andy and I were talking about what it will be like when we move. It's weird because, even though I feel like I am thinking about/talking about Texas all the time, I still think of actually living there as a hypothetical thing. So last night we went through the "What will we do when we live there?" talk. At first, of course, things will be chaotic: moving, unpacking, ordering furniture, decorating, finding the grocery store, etc. But, once the dust settles, will we just look at each other like "uh...now what?!"? I hope not, but, like any unknown, we wonder.

Fun for Kirby!

One of the best parts about living in Chicago is that it is a very dog-friendly city. In the summer, we frequent the Montrose Dog Beach, which Kirby LOVES. After doing a bit of research, I was happy to learn that Houston has an active dog park community. We'll be close to the Millie Bush Dog Park, which includes swimming pools for the pups and more. There is also a Katy dog park right in the area we are planning to live. You can check out the parks at www.houstondogpark.org
It looks like a good group.

Preparation and more Preparation

I must say, I am loving actually having something constructive to do concerning this move. Today I emailed our Houston agent with a list of the homes we're interested in seeing on our first trip. It's always fun to actually tour the houses as online pictures and tours only tell part of the story. We have also made the decision to look at some new construction, but only inventory homes (those already built) so we can compare. Many builders take a large amount off their inventory homes, especially depending on how long they have been available.

Our plan is to go on this initial trip, then once more in May to make our choice. It seems crazy to make such a big decision in a short amount of time (two visits), but, in reality, we've been weighing the pros and cons of the houses/areas/etc. since we first visited in November.

Our other big project involves getting our house ready for appraisal and sale. We already had a lot cleared out and put in storage from last summer when our place was listed (before we knew we were moving to TX) in anticipation of moving to the Chicago 'burbs. This past weekend we painted a wall in our kitchen and installed new 6-panel closet doors. Now we need to take another load to our storage unit--consisting mostly of toys Henry no longer likes. One thing I am definitely looking forward to in Texas is MORE SPACE!!

House Hunting Begins

We have our first house-hunting trip scheduled for mid-April. Our plan is to go, look at all the listings that interest us, narrow down the list/areas, and return in May for a final trip. We are anxious to meet our agent, tour Katy again, and see our new home. We will be traveling sans Henry, as a toddler and house hunting don't really mesh well.

We've seen quite a few homes that really interest us, both new inventory construction as well as resale. Our agent has advised us to look at homes newer than those built in 2002 because that is when the Houston builders were mandated to use double-pane windows in all new construction--an energy saver for sure. We are excited to see what's available and what our new home will be like.

Here Comes the Sun

There's nothing like the first warm, sunny day in Chicago. I always say you know it's Spring in Chicago when you see all the dogs and babies. These sunny, cool Spring days keep me going in the dead of winter. As I was walking around yesterday, I couldn't help but notice the smiles on the faces of those I passed. Yet, Spring's coquettish ways don't have us fooled; we know there will be more cold days to come. Days that provide fodder for conversation at the check-out line at Jewel.
"Stay warm out there!"
"Yeah, thanks. Hard to imagine it was 60 degrees yesterday and now it's 20!"
"That's Chicago for ya."

And, yes, that is Chicago. We have a torrid love affair with our weather, and our moods (or at least my mood) is greatly affected by the weather. So, all of this got me wondering. When I move to Houston, will I miss out on these brilliant days? Yes, I know there will be plenty of sun, but will there be that feeling, that indescribable something that permeates the air? I've said that people are friendly in Texas, and maybe that is partly due to the nice weather. But, it also makes me think that something is lost. With no struggle in the cold, are the days as glorious?

Box 'o Fun

Yesterday morning I was greeted with a big box on our doorstep. On the outside it read "Relocation Package: information about schools, neighborhoods, hospitals, recreation, and much more!" I was so excited to crack it open and start reading, but I was on my way out with Henry. I waited for nap time, and then I went for it. I haven't been this excited about mail in a long, long time. It was filled with all kinds of great info: maps, master-planned community brochures, school info, golf course listings, Houston's official relo booklet and much more. I spent the day reading and soaking it all in. The brochure for Cinco Ranch, where we think we'll end up living, is very cool. You can check it out here: http://cincoranch.com/flash/brochure.html

Moving in July

It looks like our move will happen in July--certainly not ideal. We really wanted to be here through the summer to enjoy Chicago and avoid the Houston heat. At least we have a time line. We're thinking it'll be the middle of July. Andy and I are planning on an initial trip to house-hunt at the end of March/early April, and our house in Chicago will hit the market in the middle of May. Now that things are moving, we are picking up momentum, and I am more emotional about the thought of leaving, especially in the summer!

We have an Agent!

We are finally able to work with an agent in Houston. We were given a couple of referrals from BP, so I contacted both and chose one. It was so nice to be able to talk to someone about all the research we've done and to confirm our assumptions about certain areas. We also have figured out that we'll probably be in Houston sooner than we suspected, most likely in July. It'll be boiling hot, so it's not really the best time to move, but oh well. Andy and I are planning an initial trip to house hunt ASAP. We need to narrow our search and meet our agent in person. It's exciting to be looking at homes. The home prices are so much lower that what we are used to in Chicago, and even with the higher property taxes, we'll still be saving! We'll have plenty of room for visitors, which will be nice. After living in a 1600 square foot condo for 5 years, it certainly will be a change to have more room. Of course, we need to fill the house, so that's another consideration. Our place in Chicago will probably be listed in May, so we have a bit of time to get organized around here.

Waiting for Signatures

Well, "the form" Andy needs signed is all ready to go. His boss got the budget info she needed, so now Andy just needs it signed by a couple of people. After that, it gets submitted and the train starts moving. According to Andy's boss, once the process is going, it's pretty intense. As I mentioned before, we will be assigned a point person from the HR group, who will coordinate all aspects of the relocation. I am hoping to be in touch with this person as well. As soon as we are able, we will be matched with a Realtor in Houston, and I can't wait to get feedback from a real, live person about the areas we have narrowed down. Andy and I will go for a visit sans toddler coming up in April or early May. We still really like the area of Cinco Ranch. I imagine it is where we'll end up. The amenities are wonderful: neighborhood pools, a splash pad, greenbelt trails, family events, social gatherings, a golf club, YMCA, library...the list goes on and on. We are also looking at Grand Lakes, but we need more info about it (that's where the Realtor will come in handy). What is appealing about these master-planned communities is the easy lifestyle and family-friendly activities. We are going to need that because we don't know anyone.

The actual town we are looking at is called Katy. It has grown considerably in the last 15 years thanks to the expanding Energy Corridor in West Houston. Katy is now home to a beautiful new branch of Memorial Hermann Hospital, a new mall, new Y, and so forth. Opportunity exists out there for all of these organizations. (Actually, the Y was funded by Ken Lay, of the now defunct Enron. He had to ask for the $$ back, so it's no long the "Ken Lay Y.") In addition, there are a couple of branches of Houston Community College, so I am looking at joining on as an adjunct instructor in their English and Composition departments.

So, that's the latest and greatest. Stay tuned for further updates!

Tag! I'm It

Michelle, my friend and former co-worker, has tagged me. She is so hip. Apparently, when another blogger tags you, you have to share seven items about yourself. I am guessing no strangers out in the blogosphere actually read my boring musings about moving to Texas, but one never knows. In the name of being a good sport (and so as not to upset my friend, who can get a little feisty), here are my seven:

1. I think I am addicted to the Internet. Actually, Andy would confirm that I am, in fact, addicted. Maybe it's because I am lonely, maybe I am seeking a connection to the outside world, or maybe I am just a weirdo, but I do spend too much time blogging, reading email, checking on friends' baby websites, searching homes in Houston, and reading my Mommy Gossip message boards. I have noticed that I spend a lot more time online than I did when I was teaching. I guess it's due to the fact that I no longer have 130 essays hanging over my head. Really, though, I do think that being a stay-at-home-mom/domestic engineer is quite isolating. Contrast that with being with 130 teenagers all day and you've got a very different lifestyle.

2. I sometimes wish I would have chosen a career involving animals. I don't really have the science in me to be a vet, but I wish I did. Or, sometimes I wish I was Cesar Milan, the "Dog Whisperer." I could train therapy dogs and work in a hospital. There is nothing that upsets me more than reading about animals in distress. I know it's awful to say, but I have often have more sympathy for animals than I do for people.

3. I can't stand when people misuse the word "peruse." It means "to examine carefully" but people often use it to mean "skim" or "browse." You would think that an English teacher would have lists and lists of grammar/usage pet peeves. I don't, really. But, yeah, the "peruse" thing bugs me. Oh, and switching around "less" and "fewer" is also annoying. One more: when people insist on putting punctuation outside of quotation marks. See my first and second sentence? The period goes INSIDE.

4. There's nothing better than a choreographed routine. I love them all--commercials, movie scenes--you name it. The opening scene of Austin Powers (check out the link)? Hysterical. The Little Dancing Man on You Tube? Weird, but funny. Do you watch 30 Rock? I am talking about "midnight Train to Georgia" with Tracey Morgan and crew. Check it out here.

5. I hate olives. I guess that doesn't really need an explanation, other than it's the one food I don't like. (I'm not a picky eater.)

6. I want to live in Vermont. I have no idea why. Maybe it's the image I have in my head: fall leaves, maple syrup, stone houses. Did I mention that I have never been to Vermont? Imagine if Andy had informed me that we were being relocated to Vermont. What would the blog be called then? "From Lincoln to Green Mountain State..." Um, not as catchy.

7. I grew up in a town with the best sunsets in the world. Have you seen a sunset in Erie, PA? There is nothing like it. Check out the pics:

The Domino Effect

Andy and his group received an email from their boss yesterday offering a trip to Houston for anyone interested in checking it out. The email also stressed that they want people to move sooner rather than later, so we are thinking that we made a good choice in offering to go. The offer allows the employee and significant other to make a trip that BP will pay for. We are obviously going to take them up on the offer, and, if the paperwork to start our official relo goes through soon, we are really hoping to have a realtor by that point. It will also be interesting to see if we have a say on when in the summer we go. We'd like it to be later in August, if possible.

I can't tell you how much better it feels to have a plan. Even though we have a lot of work ahead of us, it is somehow calming to know there is a goal in sight.