Time for a Stan & Kyle update!
Some huge changes, so fasten your seat belts!
So, some of you will know that we had plans to move to Northeastern Pennsylvania, specifically the Wyoming Valley, around our retirement. It wasn’t necessarily common knowledge until last month, but many of our closest friends have known for a very long time. Our plan was to move in three steps. Taking a U-haul with many of our smallest and treasured possessions first, then movers taking most of the rest of our possessions shortly afterward, and finally, when Stan officially retires in 2026 bringing anything of value left in NH with him.
I started packing about a year ago and intensified that effort in September and October of this year. We completed the first two portions of that plan in mid November, so I’m in PA now. We’ve spent the last year getting the PA house ready. We completely renovated five rooms of the twelve rooms in the house. Our contractor did a wonderful job with our bathrooms, the kitchen, the family room and we enclosed the front porch. We replaced doors and windows and replaced roofs. Our contractor also repaired the front facade and front retaining wall and added new stonework. People here loved it! We had so many compliments. It has been quite a project! The house is smaller by 400 square feet and is on two floors. It moves our bedroom to the first floor and gives us a guest bathroom. It also has fewer stairs. All of this makes it a better fit for us in this part of our life.
The UHaul move went better than expected. There were a few things I had planned to bring that didn’t quite fit, but, all and all, it went smoothly. Moving our kitchen cabinets and island proved to be much easier than we expected. Stan’s family armiore was another story. Bram & Quince did much better than expected for the ride. We did give them a full dose of their anxiety medication, which probably explains that. Traffic was much better than I had expected and the weather for the trip couldn’t have been any more helpful! How can you beat that for a move?
We chose Bridge Bros in Exeter, NH for our moving company. We knew it would not be cheap to move the items for our 2800 square foot house, even with us taking a third of the items ourselves, but they offered a fair price, based on my research. No hidden fees, no surprise changes; they were very up front about all of the costs for each service, what we would be billed for, what their responsibilities and ours were, and how and when everything would happen. They came highly recommended and they did not disappoint. From the consultation, to the estimate, through the actual moving of items, in both states, they made it very easy for us. Timely, professional, thorough, careful, and very personable and approachable is how I would describe our team. If you need to hire movers I’d highly recommend them! Below you can see our NH moving crew in the photo with the truck.
I’ve spent the last month the PA house unpacking items, moving things to others places in the house, and shifting items around. I’ve placed all the decor in most of the house and hung most of the art and photos. I’ve left the guest room, the enclosed porch, and Stan’s study to a later time to make it easier on myself. To pump up my spirits and surprise Stan when he came in December I did decorate for the Winter Holidays. I only put up a third of our festive finery, but it was more than enough to really make it feel like home.
Until we are both officially retired I’ll keep working on things here in this house and Stan will work on getting our place in NH ready for sale. There is a fair amount on each property to keep us busy and makes it worth taking the divide and conquer route. The next big thing here in PA will be the replacement of the old heating systems with heat pumps. We also have to look into a solar array for this house and putting in sidewalks. When better weather comes, in 2025, working on and augmenting the garden, and building the raised beds will be the task for many months. We have a bigger yard here, but most of the plantings are mature, so any new shrubs or trees added to the landscape will have to be well planned out. I’ve missed having Crepe Myrtles so it is likely I’ll place at least a couple of those and we are heavy on deciduous trees and shrubs, so I’m likely to plant some Yew and Holly.
Our property here is also different from the one in NH in that it is Stan’s family homestead and it has a second house on the property that we keep rented. It’s also older, 1850. We’re in what we call the front house which was a duplex that we changed into a single family home. Originally, Stan’s grandmother lived in this house and when she passed, Stan and Gertie, his mom, moved to the front house and Aunt Jean lived in the other half. That all happened a long time ago when Stan was still as child really. The back house was originally Stan and Gertie’s house and has been a rental for its life in this century. There is a lot of history surrounding this house, but I’ll save that for another post.
I’m missing seeing everyone, especially this time of year. Our typical Friendsgiving, Solstice, and Christmas Eve gatherings and personal visits with our chosen family have always been great sources of solace and connection for me. We haven’t had time to change those or build new traditions yet, so I’m feeling a bit isolated right now. I’m hoping once Bram & Quince feel a bit more settled next moth I can start to branch out here. I’ve been attending the Greater Wyoming Valley UU online services and their monthly book club for about half a year. I can already say they will be invaluable to building relationships here that fit with our value system and world outlook. I have been able to visit with a couple of Stan’s friends when he lived here in childhood. We had great times and I will enjoy getting to know them for years to come.
The last thing I want to talk about is the election. The results hit both of us like they did most people who want a progressive, forward thinking world. It’s okay to feel sad and overwhelmed, even angry. Just don’t let those things guide you now. I know the situation in our nation can feel hopeless it can feel like a loss. It can just feel dark. Again, don’t let those feelings inform you going forward. The reason I say that is that even with all the challenges that face us we are still very privileged people. Just look out into the rest of the globe and your can see that. Use what privileges you have. I can also assure you that the 21st Century even with all of its flaws and dangers, hardships and pain, war and poverty, it is still the best time the world has ever known. History tells us this. That makes it a time and place worth fighting for. We are closer than ever to the world we want. Find the humanity in each other, look for it in the world. Talk to each other. Rest when you need it. Look for the helpers. Collaborate. You can always find them. Don’t try to do it alone. Do not think technology, or a shift in world view, or a political uprising will help the world. They can be part of logistical solutions. They change the world; they don’t help or heal it. What is inside us is the part that is twisted and broken; it needs the healing and the help. Our humanity, our compassion, our passion for all life does that. That’s what our world needs. History shows us this. Don’t let the darkness festering here or abroad convince you otherwise. If an atheist can find the light and hope in this situation, and our world, you can too.
I’ll do another post with house photos and I’m planning a Bram and Quince post soon.
Have a wonderful rest of the Holiday Season and Happy New Year to all of you!
