6 weeks and counting

I have a little over 6 weeks before I hit the ground running to Portland.  I am starting to feel some major anxiety when I stop and think about all of the things I need to do before I leave.  As of yesterday, I have every piece of paperwork and test modules I needed to complete, turned in and signed off.  This is a huge relief, I have been running all around 3 counties for the past month getting medical records, drug tests, legal documents all turned in.  Now all of my attention can focus on my Christmas shopping, saying good bye to all of my loved ones and packing up my car.  I actually started a packing list. This is completely out of character for me, I am the type of girl who wakes up the morning of and throws a bunch of stuff in boxes or suitcases and hit the road.  I am actually putting a lot of thought into what I need to take because I don't want my mom to have to mail anything 2500+ miles.  My packing list includes the bare minimum when it comes to moving. Four plates and four bowls, a set of pots and pans and bake ware, four bath towels, four washcloths etc...where I am having the most difficult time ( and I know no one will be shocked by this) is deciding on clothes and shoes.  All these questions are going through my mind, what's the weather like, how many pairs of shoes do I need, which of what style shoes do I take, what color can I wear to work, do I take going out clothes, and casual clothes, should I just take every piece of clothing I own ( the answer to this is no, I am not hauling 20 baskets of clothes across the country or up and down stairs every time I move)!!!! I guess I will figure it all out closer to the time I leave, if not, I will fall back on my old stand by motto...Just go buy new ;-)...

My mom is, to put it nicely, less than thrilled that I am moving to Portland.  In order to ease some of her anxiety on me leaving I have asked her to drive out with me and then she will fly home.  Hopefully with her spending some time in Portland she will feel better about me moving there for 13 weeks.  This vacation for her has prompted me to do a lot of research on Portland.  Portland is the 3rd safest city in the Continental US, it has an amazing public transportation system, the median temp for winter is about 50 degrees and it hardly snows (of course I am trading snow for rain), and it has all of my necessary stores, MAC, target, trader joes, many many many microbreweries, and people keep telling me you can smoke pot out there too ( not that I know anything about this).  Everyone I talk to loves Portland, it wasn't my first choice but I glad that I am going and getting to spend time in the Pacific Northwest for a few weeks.  I have so much I want to do while I am out there, I hope I can fit it all in!!!