Running away

[autumnluv143]

I was moving, then I wasn't because of..well...issues. Then I was moving to Baton Rouge. Well, now I seem fickle, but I'm moving to Colorado...within the next 2 weeks.

I am taking advantage of the refugee status I've acquired and getting the hell out of dodge. I'm not going to regret it either. I'm determined. I'm going to miss everyone (cept certain portions of my family). I am going to spend time working, being with my best friend and working on my book. They should all be cathartic in ways I can't describe.

I found out that tangible lists are much easier to keep track of than mental lists. I kept forgetting what the list of things I needed to do was. That's ok, if I forget anything, my mother keeps reminding me that she can UPS the shit.

Any moving tips for myself and a cat?

Anyone want to hang out in the next 2 weeks? I'm going to be at the next RSVP party...it will be my last.

Let me know here or through email.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/beth_/]

best of luck with your move; I am sure you will thrive wherever you live. I would say I'll miss you ... but I already miss you. :)

from my own esperience earlier this summer, here are tips for moving with a cat -- especially if driving. my total trip time was five days -- one 13-hour day on the road, another four hours the next day, a stop of two days with relatives, and another 13-hour day on the road.

from my own experience:

• invest in a large cat carrier for the front seat. it'll keep you close to the cat, and will let the cat move around. I bought one with a top-loading door -- it was eerily easy to get my cat in and out of it, thanks to that, and it also let me reach in and pet her when I wanted to, even while driving.

• I also invested in throw-away absorbant puppy trainer sheets. they're like flat diapers ... but in the middle of a huge road trip, the last thing you want is to be hand-drying a sopping wet cat carrier, either from an "accident" or from a spilled water bowl.

• the litterbox. I travelled with Gladware filled with cat litter -- the casserole size. big enough for me to drop into the cat box during gas breaks, and came with a lid for the backseat in the meantime. she actually only used the litterbox while we were at the hotel room or at family's, though -- never in the car or carrier. but putting an option in there for her, even if it was just 10 minutes every several hours, made me feel better. :) (they also make disposable cat litter boxes, which are great for the hotel room. but I went with Gladware for the car, because of the lid.)

• don't worry too much if the cat doesn't eat or drink, esp. the first day. that said, my cat did not eat or drink for the first solid day on the road. we stopped for 2 days inbetween, and I have my doubts she ate much while stopped. but by the second full day of driving (day #5 of the trip altogether), she chowed down on treats *and* food and even drank water.

• I always had food/water available for her. I bought a big drip-water-thing at PetSmart. bowls spilled all over the place, and even the big drip-water-bottle leaked, so I ended up having to get a small container to put under it along the way. I also always left a handful of food out.

• comfort. I had some cheap throw pillows I didn't care about, and that could be sacrificed to the washer if needed, so I took both of those. she curled up on one, and slept. occasionally it would get wet from the water bottle, and then I'd switch them out ... by the time it was ready to do it again (and insert the litterbox for my peace of mind), the old pillow was dry -- and warm, and ready for a second round.

• gas stations that also serve food are not happy when you try to bring your cat in. It's do-able. even the most obedient employees won't touch or dispose of your cat when you say "please watch this package while I use your restroom." they will, however, call the manager, who won't be happy, but by the time the manager comes back, you'll be able to say what a great employee s/he has, and thank him for watching your cat. :)

• hotel rooms. my biggest mistake was letting my cat out in a hotel room. I thought I searched for every place she could hide ... I neglected to check to see if there was a way in the *back* of the bed that she could hide *under* the bed. in other words, I thought it was solid to the floor -- which it was, but there was a cat-size hole in the back. moving a queen-sized bed by yourself to get to the cat (which the hotel didn't know about) was not ... um, fun. after that, the cat was relegated to the bathroom.

• stuff for the car. you'll need a place for everything cat-related. bowls, litter, absorbant sheets, cat food, paper towels, leash, etc. I got a big Rubbermaid container, sacrificed one part of the back seat, and everything I needed was right there, when I needed it.

(I did research flying my cat to her location, but it was often based on temperature at both the departure spot and destination -- which wasn't an option when leaving from Louisiana at the end of May.)

hope this helps some.

and again ... best of luck. I'll be sending good thoughts your way.

*hugggsss*

[ici1011.livejournal.com]

I emailed you abouyt hooking up but you never responded. :) Call me on my cell 504-236-4085

[demasque.livejournal.com]

Awww heck, I'm sorry to hear you're moving! If it's going to be better for you then it's all for the good. Do keep in touch dahlink! xoxo

[(Anonymous)]

Remember what I said...

You will be missed but you have to do what is best for you.
plus... your entire family is here so I know you will be back to visit :)

drats

[violetonly.livejournal.com]

It's me violet :)