Movin' cross country. No local friends, little money, tiny car.

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Gonna either be the worst or the best decision of my life. Probably the former, but I’m a touch pessimistic.

My current job (may I keep it despite current troubles) is a WFH gig but the co. only allows workers in certain cities/regions. I absolutely suck at job hunting and would rather lick Satan’s asshole, so I’m going with that limitation. Otherwise, the sky’s the limit.

Oh, and so is my bank account. I’m not in debt anymore, thanks and praises be, but I have negligible savings.

I’ve got very few friends locally anymore, and have decided to finally join the flight out of this sun-baked godforsaken hellhole. Not really, the DFW area is lovely … but there are vast swaths of the city that make me weep, just driving through, because after 6 years of The Other Shoe’s death the loss is still a gaping, oozing wound.

Also my parents are in the area, and my parents-in-law, and I’d rather avoid them all. I’m not that antisocial of a bitch, I swear, but my mother is a toxic cunt, and Other Shoe’s parents kicked me out of the house we rented from them a month after he died, and I’d just rather not run into them, yanno?

Finally, I hate the climate. It’s miserably hot and muggy outside today. First week of October; I have been told other people are wearing long pants, or even sweaters, which sounds crazy. Shoveling snow, I hear tell. But here, the friggin’ AC compressor hasn’t shut off all day yet.

Only reason I still dragged myself through existence here was my boyfriend. My I.T. Guy. But we’ve had problems for a while, they’re not getting better and in fact are getting worse, and I’m slowly accepting that it’s over between us. There’s just too much resentment and toxic pettiness, by now. All respect and affection seem irretrievably gone.

So imma gtf outta here. Somehow.

But the only feasible destination within employment boundaries is Portland OR. Which means hauling what’s left of my shit, plus my pets, across the Rockies. Alone. I have a tiny Honda Fit, and I love that little thing but it ain’t hauling a U-haul trailer.

I dunno why I’m posting. Advice, maybe? Slap across the face about the stupidity of this idea? Anecdotes about success or failure in similar circumstances? I’ll take whatever suggestions y’all have.

But - sing it with me! - we gotta get out of this place
If it’s the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
Girl, there’s a better life, for me and you…

2

I say DO IT! Purge a ton of crap you don’t need and enjoy the adventure.

3

Couple things I forgot. I mentioned the no local friends thing to clarify that I don’t have a network of buddies to help pack or anything.

If my job wasn’t a factor, I’ve been eyeballing Ann Arbor, MI. Which might be even more expensive than Portland.

I’m looking for a small city or town, where the state has legalized it, north of the Mason-Dixon because I’m tired of being assaulted by the hot, sticky air as soon as I step outside.

I miss gardening. I miss talking walks. I miss the sun, believe it or not. Not this angry fireball that melts my brain through my ears, but the gentle warmth of blessed UV rays on my skin. Did you know SAD (seasonal affective disorder) isn’t just a wintertime thing?

4

My wife and I did something similar not to many years ago. To Dallas :). Didn’t know anyone etc. It was fine. But money wasn’t really a problem. I think that makes a huge difference. You are going to need down payments on a rental plus security deposits for utilities, plus a million other things. If possible I would try and save up as much as possible before you leave. Also getting to be winter here in the PNW. Portland isn’t especially cold but it sure is wet and dreary in the winter.

Where did you grow up? Are you used to winter? Have you ever been to Portland?

I like Portland but it is very different than DFW.

5

Anywhere in far Northern California fit your work requirements?

6

Congratulations. I admire your decision. Portland rocks! You gonna love it. Lots of good people there.

Keep us deformed.

7

Seconded. Whatever don’t ‘fit’ you don’t need. Have fun! Portland seems cool, except the whole ‘gas-pumping’ thing.

8

Portland’s great. Get moved to Oregon, then call a PDX Dopefest!

9

Head straight west on 40, you’ll cross the divide and not even know it, go thru Vegas and up to Portland. Easy drive. Not a lot of hairy mountains.

10

I hear Portland is very expensive, but I’m sure you’ve checked it out. Maybe instead of trying to haul a trailer with your Fit, rent a U-haul truck and haul the car behind it. Good luck with the move!

StG

11

Now that was some straigh shootin’ useful info. Thank you, sincerely.

12

No. Literally all others on the list are places like Alabama, North Carolina, and Utah. Which are lovely, I’m sure, but don’t fit 2 major requirements: not blindingly hot, and legalized stuff.

13

Rent a U-Haul truck with a trailer. Tow the Honda behind the U-Haul.

14

Dang it, if you were moving a couple of months later, I’d come down and convince you to rent the 26 foot Ryder with a car dolly and help ya pack and load and share (by share I mean I’d hog) the driving duties. Been hankerin for a road trip lately.

As it is, can’t take the time off from work just yet.

15

Westward ho!!

(Not derogatory ‘ho’, just ho like go!:))

16

This isn’t a “right now” thing, mostly because I can’t get time off work until after the holidays. (CSR for a major retailer. Our PTO is blacked out between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.)

So, uh … how serious were you?

17

I’ve driven a U-Haul but never towed something.

How difficult is that? It’s an option I considered, but with zero experience handling that task, and no co-pilot or someone to switch off driving, the idea seems fraught.

18

Renting a truck & tow dolly to move halfway cross the country will cost you in the neighborhood of $1,500 plus fuel. Assume 10 mpg. Taking just what your Fit will hold will cost you everything it doesn’t fit plus fuel, which will be a much lower cost.

Things to be concerned about towing a car: stay away from drive-thru anything because they mean cars, not trucks. You’ll have to stay at motels with enough space way at the back of the parking lot where you can park without having to back up.

Having never done it, assume you will not be able to back up, ever, and pick your path & parking spaces accordingly.

Bottom line: If the stuff you have beyond bare subsistence stuff is worth more to you than $1,500, go for it.

Bare subsistence: Your computer setup. A couple suitcases worth of clothes. Kitchen gear you’re particularly fond of. Keepsakes & momentos you can’t stand to lose. A minimal, one-box-each, assortment of kitchen stuff, bathroom stuff, electronic stuff. Oh, and, pets. Lose at least one item off of the above list for each pet.

19

From the thread title I was thinking of “King of the Road”:

No local friends, little money, tiny car
Rooms to let, fifty cents
No phone, no pool, no pets
I ain’t got no cigarettes

Best wishes for a successful new start.

20

It sounds cheaper to drive to Portland and let a moving company deliver your stuff.

It would suck starting a new job & life with a back injury. Let someone else carry the furniture.

What about your horses and tack Purplehorseshoe?

I recall you posting about your horses?