1. We don't really have a set schedule because life (and long meetings at work and weather) happen, but usually we drive down to MD on Sunday night and head back to NJ on Thursday night. Winter should be interesting.
2. This means that I spend time on Sunday and Thursday packing - my laptop, ipod, Kindle, phone, and knitting are must-have items, and there are often other things. Furniture, bird feeders, spices, clothing and shoes for a special occasion, and Hitchhikers have all been transported from NJ to MD, and sometimes back again. I always feel like I've forgotten something in both places.
3. And then there is the matter of food. We came down to MD on Friday after Thanksgiving, so I had to freeze most of the leftovers in NJ. When we went back last week I got everything out and made a huge batch of turkey soup. I froze some in NJ and brought the rest down here to MD, but since today is Thursday and we're not done with the soup, I'm taking it back, along with the bread I made that will be stale in MD by Sunday night. I never know where we have milk and if it will be sour or not. John thinks we should just eat hoagies from WaWa (where we can also get milk) here in MD and I'm beginning to think he's right.
I feel bad complaining about these relatively minor things when we're lucky enough to have two houses and this was our choice, but they're beginning to wear on me a bit. I did have boots in MD when it snowed, but no snow shovel (I borrowed one from a neighbor) and I haven't experienced the tragedy of leaving my knitting someplace I'm not, so I guess it's all good.
Head on over to Carole's for more Three on Thursday.
I have trouble keeping up with life in one place ... I'd say you're doing an excellent job! but I do hope you get some time to wind down and enjoy Christmas in New Jersey (with food, milk and the right knitting :-)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a pretty hectic time. Here’s hoping you hang on to your knitting and your sanity
ReplyDeleteLife in one place is challenging, but you get all the stars and awards for your awesomeness and adaptability!!
ReplyDeleteAnd, hoagies FTW! :)
Heaven forbid you misplace your knitting! I say being able to sit down and knit with a beverage (adult or otherwise...hot or cold...) should make things *seem* alright with the world. I'm sure the commute gets old quickly (and I know those roads you drive - not pleasant). Hang in there - you do know that it is not forever (thank God).
ReplyDeleteI have never had two houses -- not a vacation home or anything like that -- but I can imagine the challenge. Good thing you're easy going and adaptable, huh??? :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you've got an emergency project that you leave in MD! I can't imagine being in a house without knitting even if I didn't touch it. I also commend you on the back and forth, I'll bet it's wearing on you. I suggest you just go to Colorado and come back in the spring! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt is a lot. When my parents traveled to northern wisconsin they had similar issues. IT was a lot of work...FOR my MOM!!
ReplyDeleteHmm ... I know exactly what you mean!
DeleteOh bother! That is a pain. I have lived in two houses 70 miles apart for 6 months. Here were some things that I did that helped, but YMMV. Buy UHT milk. I know people complain about this type of milk, but it does keep for ages, and I still use it in some forms. I never run out of cream for my coffee with this in the house. I also did some "power cooking" and froze entree sized meals that I put in the freezers of both houses. If that doesn't appeal, then cooking greater quantities and freezing the extras wherever you are. It was great to have something in there to eat when I arrived. I duplicated some items of clothing just because I got weary of packing all the time. I had a "go" bag with essentials that I just added clothing to each time I traveled. I am sure you will find solutions that will fit your situation. If you don't make accommodations then you feel like you are on a perpetual camping trip, and that was not fun for me. Give yourself some time, Bonny, you will figure it out!
ReplyDeleteI imagine you're not sure if you're coming or going a lot of the time. I hope with time you'll settle into a routine that's easily managed.
ReplyDeleteYou don't sound like you are complaining just wondering about how to manage the challenges of living in two places. For me, the food and cooking would be the hardest. I have trouble keeping track of what is in one kitchen, freezer, pantry, etc. I say hang on tight to that knitting and maybe keep a spare skein and set of notions in each place. I imagine you will figure it out over time.
ReplyDeleteOh, Bonny. I totally get this. SO MUCH!!! This is how I live from late April to late October . . . splitting my time between home and up north. I'm always wondering what's where and did I leave something vital behind. After juggling the two locations for over twenty years, I've gotten better at it. But those years at the beginning? Oh, my. The planning and packing and unpacking and trying to remember everything just . . . wore me out! (My advice? Duplicate everything you can so you don't have to haul it back and forth. Food, though, is always a problem.) (Also . . . create a Master List and use it for EVERy trip. I still use my Master List.) Thinking of you! XO
ReplyDeletePS - We always take a cooler with us - back and forth. That way, we take any perishables - milk! - with us from place to place. The meal planning and shopping is the worst when you're regularly hopping back and forth. I have other tips. Let me know if you want them. . .
ReplyDeleteWaWa! You just brought back good memories for me! I went to college and grad school in Philadelphia, so trips to WaWa were an almost daily occurrence.
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't left your knitting behind at one house or the other, I'd say you're doing pretty well. I think with this kind of thing, going back and forth, after a while it becomes routine and you know exactly what to pack.
Do you like having two homes? I'm sure it will become ordinary one day hopefully soon. I think it's great that you go with him and can work at either location :)
ReplyDeleteMy tip is to eat out. Yep. Every meal. LOL Your life going back and forth is not enviable but duplicating everything you can sounds like sound advice. That way you haul only the things you can't replace (like knitting). You'll get having two homes down to a fine art in no time.
ReplyDeleteHaving two houses always means that the Thing That You Need is at the other house.
ReplyDelete