All of the hullabaloo of the past couple days, all of the obsessive and painstaking planning and packing and stuff-reducing activities of the past couple months, all of that tremendous effort became worth it today when by 5pm the truck was packed and parked, brandishing its permit, the house was clean(er than it’s been at any point in the past three years), everything that was going to be donated had been donated, we’d gotten healthy food to bring with us on the road, I’d closed my bank account, and there wasn’t another thing to worry about. We even got complimented by our movers. “You guys were so prepared; it was easy!” I think I may carry that praise with me to the grave, it felt so good.

Now all that remains is to sleep on the hard floor of our home sweet home for one more night and then, tomorrow morning, get going on our way to the future.