We easily have the best friends in the world. You require proof? Alright. For one, our friends helped us move. Three times. In one year. (It's really amazing that they are still our friends at all.) But it's great! We seem to have it down to a science. The movees pack everything up, the boys do the heavy lifting and the girls unpack. It's a sharp system and with 8 people working we can move entire houses in a few short hours.

As much fun as it is hanging out during the moving process, it's quite tedious work and 3 moves in a year is enough to tax even the most loyal comrade. So, as a parting gift to our group of friends as we made our most recent move to Hawaii, we hired movers. Well, actually they were included in the new job contract, (Score!) but that's hardly the point.

In the weeks leading up to the move, the captain and I worked diligently to box up everything we owned, but when the big day finally dawned we still had quite a few things that needed to be stowed away before it was hauled off to the island. We had been told that the packers would be in contact with us the day before the move to set up a time when they would arrive to package up all of our breakables. This sounded great, but when 11:30pm rolled around Monday night and we had not heard from "Ye old moving company" we were somewhat concerned. When were they coming? We had no idea. Figuring that they would probably arrive around noon, we decided to call it a night and finish up in the morning.

Knowing that there was much to do, we got up before 8 the next morning and began our day. I was glad that we had decided to get the early start when, a few minutes after 8, we saw a giant moving van pull up to the curb completely unannounced, a discretion that can be excused between friends, but perhaps not between strangers. (Thankfully the captain and I had showered and were appropriately attired upon their arrival.)

As you can imagine, I was a bit flustered. Suddenly I had to load everything up and I simply wasn't ready! I was relieved to discover this was just the packing crew. The shipping container wouldn't arrive until 1pm. Whew.

With that we set about the task of boxing up "everything else." The captain and I thought we had things pretty well in hand but it was amazing how much they found to put in boxes. The overseer in me had a great time. They would ask, "Hey do you want this boxed up too?" and I would respond, "Yes!" And away it would go. Neat and tidy.
You've got to love that.

Before long our house was a mass of brown boxes and packing paper that spewed out onto the lawn. Quite the sight.




When the shipping container arrived, we just sat back and let the men do what they do. I tried to help, but quickly found that I was more of a nuisance than a help. So I sat down on the stairs and played with my ipod touch. It was the easiest move we'd ever had.



That is until we arrived in Hawaii. Suddenly we realized just how long it took to unpack an apartment. A job that normally took 3 hours suddenly ate up an entire week, and let me tell you, it kinda sucked. A lot. As I opened up box after box of kitchen items I couldn't help but remember our last move where, when we had finished unpacking we all sat down on the kitchen floor and read children's books.

Alas friends, you are missed. -sigh- Here are a few snatches from move number four.