We're moving!

Earlier this year, I applied for the position of Chief Information Officer at Chapman University (www.chapman.edu) in Orange. Orange is in Southern California, adjacent to Los Angeles. After a rigorous process - four steps, including a two-day interview and a day of visits - I was offered the job. I'll be starting my new job on June 2nd so Gordon and I will be moving to Orange at the end of May.

The positives about moving, in addition to the fact that I am moving to my dream job, are the weather and the beaches. Many other people would talk about the fact that we're so close to Disneyland. Not being a big Disneyland fan myself, I'm not ready to put that in my positives list. I'll also be closer to Ashling, since it's about 30 miles from Cal Poly Pomona, where she's going to school. The big negative, of course, being the distance that we'll be moving away from Dara, Zac and the boys, as well as Nan. We are thinking that we'll do a lot of visits each year.

The big challenge now for us is the moving. We are planning to rent our home in Fair Oaks, and to sell our home in Hercules. No change on our Berkeley home yet. But there is significant work to getting two houses ready to sell or rent! And not a lot of time to do it! We are trying to go into purging mode. I've started that with my wardrobe. I have offered all my winter clothes and many of my boots to my friends and colleagues. We've had some visitors come over and enjoy going through my closet to take what works for them! But this weekend, I plan to donate the remainder to St. John's Shelter for Women, along with toys and blankets. Next up is books. Then pictures! We're even trying to purge furniture. Sadly, some of our couches and chairs have been scratched by the kitties and don't seem to be much in demand. However, we've already cleared out one room. Gotten things out of the garage. Brought Nan two cases of wine. Nobody that comes to our house goes home empty-handed. But there is still a *long* way to go!