Moving to Maine during the winter...... (Eastport: house, buy, schools)

[starwalker]

We did not move much in the way of furniture (for home, at least... I moved most all of the office furniture, large pieces, unfortunately, and only "freebies" or thrift store finds, but REAL WOOD and things I like.) but moving an artist studio and a graphic business -- archives, business records -- and the meaningful little stuff, newly bought (3 yr or less old, primo) mattresses... it did take up room. And suffice to say, we have some odd shaped stuff and that takes up more room. And I did move furniture (tables, mostly) that dad or I had made.

no appliances came, save a dorm fridge. We replaced the stacked washer/dryer from Goodwill for $200.

But we also did not take the luxury of a leisurely truck packing, did it all ourselves and were not terribly well at the time.. In other times and places we could have fit it into a smaller truck, but this was not then..

I have not missed anything we sold or gave away before we moved.

[Maineah]

If possible I'd wait until April or May... You couldn't have picked a worse time of year weather wise. It is my firm belief (and also that of other old timers) that this particular winter is going to be one cold ,snowy, icy mess! (no sunspots....first time in 400 years!) It's going to be a long winter and I would not want to be dealing with a move in January or February. Lugging furniture in sub zero temps over ice and snow.....you can have it! That's just my opinion.
Sure it could be done, but it won't be fun by any means.

[dramamama6685]

El...I'm so excited for you and your quest to come home. Willb that must be so neat to have family want Maine as much as you do. Our families think we're insane!

[willb]

It's true about coming in April, because that is just the beginning of some real beauty and comfort, but it's kind of like what Billy Crystal says at the end of "when Harry met Sally" about "when you've decided you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you don't want to put it off another minute". If it is a bad winter and you make it through think how beautiful those lilacs will be.

[mollysmiles]

ok, only have a minute and away from home, but I have to say .... WHAT ARE YOU THINKING???

Pack the d*mn truck today and hit the road!!!! Seriously.... The house is beckoning.....

What are the advantages of NOT coming *now*? I'm calling you when we get home.... or tomorrow from the road.... this is silly..... pack now!!

[Maine Writer]

Uh oh El, you're in trouble now! Did you get the message? Pack now!!

[BacktoNE]

Originally Posted by mollysmiles

ok, only have a minute and away from home, but I have to say .... WHAT ARE YOU THINKING???

Pack the d*mn truck today and hit the road!!!! Seriously.... The house is beckoning.....

What are the advantages of NOT coming *now*? I'm calling you when we get home.... or tomorrow from the road.... this is silly..... pack now!!

Ya, what Molly said!! She's the boss dontcha know


So, are you packing yet??

[entyss]

My opinion, for what it's worth, is wait til spring. We moved in April, DH and 3 friends drove the rental truck so they could drive straight through. 2 of them followed in one of our cars. It was raining, roads were slick, truck broke down. After waiting several hours, and it was determined the truck couldn't be fixed, a different truck was bought in, and all the furniture and boxes had to be reloaded, on the side of the highway. Continuing on, the load shifted, and the truck almost tipped. DH is an experienced driver, everything from dump trucks to cranes, and all he could think is thank God it's not snowing. And our rental was in Portsmouth, so he didn't even have to go as far as you would. Plus, he didn't have little kids or pets to worry about.
Bottom line, why make it any worse than you have to? At least wait til the chance of ice or snow is gone. But that's just my opinion.

[elston]

Driving thru Texas and LA and Mississippi and Alabama and Tennessee and Virginia and Pensylvania in late March was BEAUTIFUL! Red Buds and Flowering Pears and dog wood were breathtaking! We didnt get into snow until NH....and then not much. Maine had lots of left over snow on the ground but by April when we moved in.....it was earliest spring and everything was starting to melt.

Our house was on the market so when it sold ..... we had 30 days to move. We used a van line for the furniture and we stayed in a motel upon arrival for almost a week, with 2 dogs, waiting for our closing and furniture. It all worked out wonderfully. I hope that your move goes as well.

That you have a plan and are in control of the schedule is a big plus.....Good Luck.

[AlisonL]

March is a fickle month in Maine. You can have the worse snowstorms of the season then. I would either move right now or wait until mid to late April. Also, consider some of the other states you will be traveling through and the fact that they could also have some bad storms.
If I was not used to driving in snow and such, I would be careful what time I chose to move. Especially driving one of the rental trucks.
I remember back in the 80s, hub and I went to PA for a week. Beautiful weather there. Came home to 23 inches of new snowfall in Maine.
Just choose the moving time carefully and you will be fine.