Cross-country Road Trip (part 2)

We’ve officially been in Georgia for one week and one day and I have a quiz for you.

Which of the following statements are true:

1. I drove 2500 miles in six days.
2. My family of four is living in a one-bedroom apartment.
3. We’ve toured 16 houses and put an offer on two (not at the same time).
4. Our delivery truck isn’t coming in 2015.
5. We’ve toured two different schools, researched countless others.
6. I’m cooking (and reheating) all of our meals with a cast iron skillet, a small dutch oven and a aluminum 9″ x 13″ pan.
7. I’ve made 6 different grocery shopping trips.
8. I’ve paid over $8 to do 3 loads of laundry.
9. Made sour cream sugar cookies and vanilla butter cream icing, from scratch and without a mixer.

Answer: All of the above!

But here’s the thing – it’s been a huge learning experience! I’ve figured out how to heat water without a pot, which meals work best as a hot OR cold meal and when to give myself grace with convenience foods.

My kids have been introduced to fried potatoes for breakfast and they LOVE them. We’re all learning to be content with what we have at the moment, including mis-matched socks and slightly damp towels.

Finally, we’re finding joy in the small things, like a classic pencil & paper game of dot-to-dot and a vanilla scented candle.

While I’m choosing to see our circumstances through rose-colored glasses, I did want to share three important lessons I’ve learned since arriving in Georgia:

3 Things to Consider About Your Final Destination

(1) Keys

Will someone be home? If not, can someone let you in? Do you have to make sure you arrive before the office closes? These are all things to consider BEFORE you leave for that last day of driving, since when you need to arrive dictates when you need to leave.

In our case, we would be arriving to an empty apartment – Mr. Crumbs was out of town on business. This meant planning to arrive in time to visit the office first for a set of keys. We also had to consider the distance for the last day, losing an hour with changing time zones and the time it takes to make stops with kids in tow.

(2) Food

What are your plans for food when you arrive? This will vary depending on each circumstance, but in ours, Mr. Crumbs ate out the kitchen before he left on a business trip. This meant we were coming home to an empty fridge. We mapped out the nearest Chipotle and counted on that for dinner, then prepped enough food in the car to cover breakfast the next day. This gave us some wiggle room so we didn’t have to grocery shop before having a cup of coffee.

(3) Creature Comforts

Coffee in the morning, fresh drinking water, clean beds and linens, clean pajamas, hot tea before bed… if there’s anything that you’re used to doing on a regular basis, consider the possibility that it won’t be the same when you arrive. Be prepared and ready if at all possible, and like any situation, a positive attitude goes a long way!

With that said, here’s part 2 of our road-trip across the country!

Day 4 – Texas to Louisiana

Day 5 – Resting in Louisiana

Day 6 – Louisiana to Georgia

Wouldn’t you know it – 2500 miles, 8 states and one traffic stop later (just a warning!), it was the same temperature as we left. Go figure!

The Crumbs family began a new chapter in November 2015, and I’m sharing the story as it unfolds every Friday (or Monday, in today’s case) here on the blog.

Here are the rest of the posts in this chapter:

• A New Chapter in Crumbs
• The Art of Selling Everything You Own
• Viewing Your Life in Terms of Boxes
• How to Live Minimally for Two Weeks
• Cross Country Road Trip – Part One
• Cross Country Road Trip – Part Two

PS – Many of you knew we were making big decisions and you’ve emailed to express your thoughts and prayers – can I just say thank you?! I am seriously BLOWN AWAY by your outpouring of love and kindness. You have absolutely NO idea how much it means to us – thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! Despite not being able to reply to them all, I read every single one of them, cherish the kind words and encouragement you are sharing, and I am sincerely thankful for every single one of you!

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