Never Drink From Mommy’s Bierkrug: Expatations

 

I am just going to rip the band aid right off.

We are moving. Again. This is a moving announcement.

We didn’t plan this. The family moved into the bigger house this spring, the assumption being that we would be in Texas for at least another 2 years. Moose and I talked about buying a second car. The kids joined swim team. I took a job outside of the blog and podcast and took on some long term volunteer opportunities. We love our little corner of the world and we’re grateful to be spending more time here.

The conversation that started it all.

Moose sat me down in June and said, “We need to talk.”

Me, “Oh god. Are you leaving me? You are leaving me. I swear I will get better about putting my dirty clothes in the hamper and I will quit sneaking mouthfuls of chocolate sprinkles, and I will try to be nicer to you in the mornings. No promises but I will try.”

“No, that’s not it. My boss said we need to talk.”

“Oh god, did you lose your job? I knew it was too good to be true. It’s okay. Taco Bell is hiring, I can work there at night. And you can work at Lowes. It will be fine.”

“No that’s not it. Wait, why am I not getting another job in my field in this scenario? No…please focus. He wants to know if you would be open to a move.”

“Oh, that’s it? Sure. When do I have to pack?”

“Do you want to know where?”

“Not really, but you know where I won’t move to. You would have nipped it in the bud immediately.”

“This is pretty big.”

“Okie dokie, just let me know when.”

This is a summary of the conversation. It had a little bit more meat on it but it was also like 2 in the afternoon in the summer so I had like 3 vodka lemonades in me.

Hurry up and wait.

Nothing in Moose’s field is immediate. They make the DMV look efficient. It’s a great field and he works for an awesome company but they are in no rush, ever. We spent the next couple of months talking about it, warming the kids up to it, getting little pieces of info from his bosses that things were still in motion. Then while we were vacationing in Alabama, we got a more concrete answer that yes, this is happening. No real details and it was still going to be awhile but confirmation that the budget was there and they wanted him. Things always happen in Gulf Shores for us. Last time we vacationed there, Moose got 2 different job offers by phone in a 30 minute time frame. We now consider it a lucky charm for us.

Another month passed with little word, again very normal. Then all the sudden, a phone call. They have a goal date of January 1st (HOLY CRAP) and a slight change in location. 3 months away. Mobility and HR had been contacted to start the process. It has since been a little over a month. The people that need to know have been notified. I have started making lists, decluttering, getting paperwork around, and shopping for what we will need.

What are you trying to say, Drink Mom?

So that is that. We are moving to Germany!!! Hamburg to be exact.

We will be there atleast a year, I don’t know what will happen after that. Maybe we will stay. Maybe we will move back to Texas. And maybe we will move on to somewhere new.  But for now, we are going to be expats! Expatations, get it? Word puns are so funny.

We are extremely excited and a little overwhelmed. There is so much to do! Do we pack it, store it, or sell it? Setting up moving arrangements. German lessons. Bucket lists being planned for our time there. I am not going to waste your time by denying some late night tipsy shopping for lederhosen for the boys. The kids and I have applied for passports (that is a whole other post). And all this while spending as much time as possible with our friends, wrapping up our responsibilities, and a crazy as usual fall schedule. Also, Moose has been on the road. The next few months are going to fly by. Meanwhile, this blog is going to get wicked busy, I hope you stick around while we take on this new adventure.

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