Hello blog readers! It’s your favorite soon-to-be-expatriate here, reporting live from the trenches of pre-departure chaos. Monday hit me like a ton of bricks, bringing with it the joyful return to the 9-to-5. Ah, the glamorous life!
While I was busy crunching numbers, Dave was upstairs battling the forces of evil… or at least, the forces of slightly-shady rental agreements. Apparently, the Saba rental house situation was getting a little dicey, with someone trying to strong-arm us into a year-long lease on the tiny cottage. Picture this: adorable, yes, with a porch view that could make angels weep, but also… tiny. And let’s just say the exterior wasn’t exactly screaming “luxury resort.” Thankfully, Dave, the master negotiator, swooped in and saved the day, but not without a hefty dose of unnecessary stress.
Speaking of stress, Monday evening brought a delightful wave of existential dread. As I stood in the paddock, a pit formed in my stomach as I realized that in just one week, Dave would be living his best island life in Saba, while I’d be stuck in Connecticut. The thought of living alone again after so long was surprisingly daunting. Send wine. And maybe a therapist.
Tuesday started innocently enough, but then our friend Chuck popped in for a surprise visit! Lunch at Mix Prime for some sushi was a welcome distraction. That evening, we had a house showing, which meant one thing: Operation Keep-Albus-Occupied was a go! I bravely ventured to our local brewery with the furry terror in tow. Let’s just say, it wasn’t my finest hour. Albus was a wild beast, attempting to redecorate the patio with his own brand of “rustic chic” (read: digging and chewing). And the grand finale? A poop-tastic performance right in the middle of the gravel. Oh, Albus! Jared joined me, and we noshed on some cheese curds and tater tots while passing the time.
Returning home was a relief, and I happily handed Albus back to Dave. In our absence, Dave had been coordinating the pickup of our bird, Smeagal. Sadly, our feathered friend couldn’t make the trip to Saba due to import restrictions. We found him a wonderful, bird-savvy family, though, so at least we know he’s in good hands.
Wednesday brought another house showing, and another Albus adventure! This time, we opted for Ayla’s, another spot with outdoor seating. This time Dave armed me with a super-powered chewy, and Albus transformed into a model canine citizen. He sat politely, accepted pets from admirers, and was generally a good boy. The showing went well, but still no offers on the house. The suspense is killing me!
Wednesday night, the mental wheels started spinning. I started thinking about Finnegan, and how much I miss his quiet and steady presence, so to distract myself I thought about the move, but both thought trains just stressed me out. Dave is leaving in just a few days, and it feels like nothing is close to being ready for that. Luckily, right as I was about to jump headfirst down a rabbit hole, Jenn called to check in. Thank heaven! I immediately spewed my whole crazy head trip out to her, and she was able to talk me off the ledge. Whew!
To distract myself, I decided to play with some imagery, but galaxy.ai was not cooperating. It would take my credits, spin for awhile, then time out and return my credits. Frustrating! Eventually I called it a day and went to bed.
So, that’s the latest from my corner of the world. Stay tuned for more tales of pre-departure madness! Wish me luck as I attempt to navigate the next few days without completely losing my mind. And maybe send some extra-strength chew toys for Albus. He’s going to need them.