We have been waiting for this move for almost 18 months, so today was pretty exciting. For those that aren't familiar with the military terms, UAB is our Unaccompanied Baggage or Express shipment. We were allowed up to 2K lbs, but I know we didn't come close to that. Probably not even 1K. I scoured many blogs, lists and face book posts trying to determine what would be the best items to send in UAB. I wrote a big long list, and almost everything made it. The purpose of the UAB is to make your life a little easier should you get a house before your HHG (Household Goods) arrive in country.
In our shipment, we sent a set of plates/bowls/cutlery for each person, new cups&glasses, my crock pot, griddle, pots&pans, a few kitchen utensils & baking supplies, pampered chef grill pan, some board games, our blu ray player, some blu rays, Wii U & games. We also sent the Roomba, steam mop, toys for the youngest kid, spices that I had unopened from Trader Joe's, dish towels, dish rags, 6 beach towels. All of our comforters and a set of sheets for everyone. Plus other random items like a small tv, school supplies, throw pillows and some blankets for the couch, our canvas prints we just had made, all my family photos from my childhood on, 80% of my scrapbook supplies. Etc Etc. Oh, and I was able to pack a small tote full of my extra hair products and lotion, I just placed it in Ziploc bags, and wrapped the bags with dishtowels, and then placed it in the tote. I also sent all my antique Depression glass, and my train case full of extra makeup! Andrew sent quite a bit of ProGear, which his all his military stuff he can't take in his suitcases. I doubt we will have this delivered to the hotel in Germany as there is a bit too much to fit into our rooms we have reserved, but just in case we get a house early, we will have this stuff and be glad for it. Thankfully the packers didn't take too long today, less than two hours. I signed some papers, the boxes were sealed into crates, and off they went!
When we arrive in Germany and get assigned a house, we have the option of using the lending closet through ACS (Army Community Services), where we will get loaner furniture and anything else we need. Freecycle is also available there for us, as well as the thrift shop. Anything else we need we can purchase too (a coffee pot and a new toaster, we are leaving ours behind in Kansas).
Two more weeks and our big shipment goes out. That will take 3-4 days. Packing for days 1-3 (possibly only two days), and then it gets put in the crates on day 3 or 4. That shipment will take approximately 2 months to arrive to us in Germany as it will get shipped by a boat!
Andrew and I were joking this morning that the house looks so nice right now. We have gotten rid of so many things, including some furniture, and it looks so much more roomy in here. Our garage is as clean as it's ever been. We said we wished we had it this way three years ago when we moved here!
I will say though that seeing less "stuff" in the house makes me want to live a more minimalistic life. Easier said than done when we also have a bedroom full of stuff at my Mother in law's house in California :/ However, when Andrew retries, we will have a much bigger house so it won't be as crowded as we have been here.
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