MAKING THE BIG MOVE

Making the move cross country is never an easy undertaking for anyone. I know, because I did it back in March of 2011 when I moved from Kitchener, ON to Banff AB. I packed up my two bedroom apt.  and drove cross country in my Jeep Liberty .  

I wasn’t driving alone tho, my then long distance boyfriend of 7 years, now husband, flew in from Banff to help with the move. 

Before the decision could ever be final, I needed to get permission from my two boys (17 & 13 at the time).  When I sat down with them and asked how they felt about me moving out of province, they were excited for me, and just wanted me to be happy. Insert tears here. 

From there it was pretty quick.  I had to let their father know my plans, and the rest of my family and friends.

Contacted my local U-Haul and reserved my trailer, and had them add a trailer hitch to the Jeep to tow it. (which I thought was reasonably priced)  

Spent days calling and talking to utility companies, insurance, credit card companies, banks, business partners ( had a small aromatherapy store in Fort Erie with a young RMT and her husband).  Just as important was giving notice to my landlord, who always treated me great.  You never want to burn any bridges. No one has a crystal ball to know the future.

I gathered boxes from the grocery stores and bought a bundle for U-Haul.  Packed up everything, (So I thought lol) leaving just what I needed. When It came time to put it all into the trailer I was still packing things up! To the chagrin of my family that showed up to help. Ooops

On a side note, try to make sure you recruit more help then you need, cause as well intended as people are to help you, moving anyone is not on the top ten,” best fun one can have” list

So here we are all packed up and hugs and tears are over and we are on the road.  I ended up driving most of the way, including thru Manitoba. Specifically just before Brendon Manitoba.  We end up running into a snow storm. Well wasn’t there black ice on the highway. I wasn’t 100% sure, with the trucks and other vehicles speeding past me. Soon I found out what hitting black ice was like.  I felt the trailer start to sway behind me. The steering wheel starts to feel  loose in my hands. I instinctively take my foot off the gas, and tap the brakes. WRONG, you know what comes next. Yes, the trailer swings around and smashes into the back of the Jeep. Loudly taking out the rear passenger window and caving in the back door.

Now we are turned around facing oncoming traffic. Here we are out of the vehicle and looking at the damage.  When we think, maybe we should get back in, and keep going down the road. Freezing and driving much slower than before, I start seeing the big trucks and vehicles that went speeding by us, now in the ditch! GREAT!

 Just before we come into Brendon, I feel the trailer start to go again, this time I give more gas and bring it back out.  For some strange reason, in the back of my head I hear my dad telling me you have to give GAS, to get out of a slip.  Thanks dad! (RIP)  Saved more damage being done to the Jeep or even us!

Finally get to Brendon and grab some garbage bags and tape to cover the window and head back out.  3592.5 km, and 4 days later we finally pull into Banff where his buddies are waiting to off load the trailer into the apt. Nerves a little fried, tired, hungry and very appreciative to be alive. Time, for a well deserved beer. 

#madeitalive #crosscanadamove #diditmyself #brokersforlife #cochranemortgagebroker