Sorry for the lack of updates; we were SUPER busy.
But now we're in Japan!!! We got to our new apartment about 10 pm Tokyo time (8 am Chicago time) on the 28th and promptly crashed. The next day we got some groceries, and yesterday went to the ¥100 store to stock up on items this apartment lacks—like bowls, as there are only a couple of really large bowls (not good for cereal) and a gravy boat. And no chopsticks, of all things!
We have about two weeks of nothing scheduled to get settled and over jet lag before my husband starts his job. We'll be spending that time getting our apartment in order and just relaxing. We both really need a vacation, and though technically this is a stay-cation as this is our home, it's still novel enough that it feels like a real vacation. :)
Okay, let's go back to where I left off and catch you up on all that went down. The cars FINALLY sold, but at much lower prices than expected. One guy bought the Honda for $3,300, and someone else bought the Toyota for technically $1,700, but only brought $1,500. They said they'd bring the remaining $200 the next day, but of course they never came. :P
We managed to get all of our loose belongings into 6 banker's boxes, and then we had four boxes that certain appliances or Christmas decorations went into. My brother and SIL took one box, and my very generous aunt and uncle took the rest. What a blessing! Now we don't have to worry about paying for a storage unit.
Everything else either got packed into our four suitcases/two carry-ons/two backpacks, or was donated. It was a LOT of stuff! I don't know if we'll quite reach the point that we can use it for a tax write off, but we'll see. Between all of that stuff and our other regular monetary donations to various charities and churches, we might baaaaarely make it. Guess we'll find out come March. ;)
Salvation Army finally came and picked up our furniture. I tried calling around to other charities after they didn't show up that first day, but apparently it was furniture donation season, since most places were too full and couldn't accept any more. So I rescheduled with SA and this time they came. They didn't take as much furniture as I was hoping (not everything I asked for them to take was written on their ticket, and they'd only take what the phone person had written down), but at least they took the bulk of it.
We had some friends and a relative come and help us clean, which was WONDERFUL. They finished our whole place in about three hours. We hadn't been able to really clean for a few weeks, so it was gross. After they left, the place looked new.
I think that's everything. If I missed something, let me know.
I'll be back to update my progress on setting up my new place, don't worry! :)
