The Final Countdown

At last, an update:

As planned, I left Harvard on May 27, the day after Commencement, so that I could focus on packing up the house (in addition to saving money on before/afterschool for Artie and daycare for Vivi.)  Our house went on the market in early May, but we didn't get an acceptable offer, just over our asking price, until June 24 (one offer was less than what we originally paid!).  Then the rush was on to find a place to live, but first we had to see where I would land a job.

Art finally got my resume into the right hands after someone left, so I interviewed with his company in mid-June.  In late July, I was finally offered a position as an admin assistant in the Clinical Development & Regulatory Affairs division.  However, since the department apparently has met its hiring quota for the year, they can only offer me a temp position through December--but assuming all goes well, I'd get a signing bonus upon becoming permanent in January.  (Art wonders if they used that as an excuse to avoid giving me relocation benefits, since his own were extended an extra 3 months past his original deadline.  But whatever--I think it gives me a chance to see if I like it, and if I don't, I can look at what is out there in higher ed.)

As for housing, timing was too tight to search for and close on a house; we will be renting a condo in Danbury, CT.  It's about 45 min from Regeneron with traffic.  The girls and I have not seen it yet, because after seeing 4 properties, our first choice was taken by the time we tried to submit an application, and the second was rejected (they didn't understand we were in the process of selling our house--GRRR).  So Art saw a couple of properties after work one day, and liked this one.  (Fireplace, 2-car garage under the house, community playground and pool--I'll take it!)

And why do things the easy way? We get the keys AND I start my new job this coming Monday, the 15th.

It's been a rough 14 months, and I'm ready for this move to just be over with.  My anxiety levels are through the roof, especially since the girls fight more than they play together, and Vivi has severe separation anxiety--she shadows my every move and wants to "help" with everything.  So now it's crunch time; today Art stuffed the Corolla with boxes and I followed behind with the girls, Little Susie the guinea pig, and her cage.  After setting up Susie's cage in Art's current apartment, we had dinner, and then the girls and I drove back to Boston.  Whew!  See you on the other side...