Happy but still stressed?

You have to get used to the different bugs here! It's not unusual to have cold after cold for a while after moving.

My first Christmas there with Tom in 2015, I lost my voice the first three days! I was like what is going on! It came back in a couple days, but I thought for sure I'd spend Christmas sick!

I've been really fortunate in that regard... before I moved, I would get pretty bad chest colds in the US about once a year.  Over here, I've had a sniffle once or twice in the six-years-if-you-count-from-my-six-months-visit that I've been over here and that couldn't really be distinguished from seasonal allergies, other than the short duration.  In fact, other than those two sniffles, the only time I have been sick since 2012 was a few days of bad chest cold during the two months I was back in the US for my fiancee visa application.

I've been really fortunate in that regard... before I moved, I would get pretty bad chest colds in the US about once a year.  Over here, I've had a sniffle once or twice in the six-years-if-you-count-from-my-six-months-visit that I've been over here and that couldn't really be distinguished from seasonal allergies, other than the short duration.  In fact, other than those two sniffles, the only time I have been sick since 2012 was a few days of bad chest cold during the two months I was back in the US for my fiancee visa application.

Sounds like your body prefers the UK!

Sounds like your body prefers the UK!

Most definitely.  When I first moved over, I was used to the regular chest cold thing, and how badly they do me in, and I was so worried about the first time my husband saw me so ill... I was dreading dealing with that ordeal.  But it hasn't happened.  Now I feel invulnerable!  (Not really, but I do feel quite healthy compared to the US!)

Sounds like your body prefers the UK!

The lesser population density in Wales probably helps. 

The lesser population density in Wales probably helps. 

I'm sure it does!  But I did spend the first 3-and-a-bit years just outside of Salisbury.  Still, it was a tiny village, and reasonably far from Things and People.

Oh I love lists. I love organizing. And researching stuff. I love being able to see what all my options are and then have backup plans. haha That's why I'm glad I have so much time before we are moving.

Below are some screen shots of my OneNote I've been adding to for our move to show how much of a nerd I am. I have folders for General info, Trains and Commuting, Car buying & insurance, Banking, House rental/sales, Pet stuff, Dr. & Dentist info, our Budget, a rough "Game Plan", info about when we are coming over next year for a family wedding, and then I have subfolders for all of them as well. hahaha

Below is a link to the screen shot:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Al7H-y-QxMixrByCW4mpI1c-Avwz

Oh I love lists. I love organizing. And researching stuff. I love being able to see what all my options are and then have backup plans. haha That's why I'm glad I have so much time before we are moving.

Below are some screen shots of my OneNote I've been adding to for our move to show how much of a nerd I am. I have folders for General info, Trains and Commuting, Car buying & insurance, Banking, House rental/sales, Pet stuff, Dr. & Dentist info, our Budget, a rough "Game Plan", info about when we are coming over next year for a family wedding, and then I have subfolders for all of them as well. hahaha

Below is a link to the screen shot:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Al7H-y-QxMixrByCW4mpI1c-Avwz

Haha,  we're going to have to start calling you Monica!   

Monica in a “Friends” tv show kind of way?  Haha

Monica in a “Friends” tv show kind of way?  Haha

Exactly! 

hahaha guilty.

I justify it this way: 

1.) It gives me something to do to keep up the excitement about the move

2.) Most people move so quickly that they have to make rush decisions on things without time to research and then after they have settled in, realize there were better options. This way, I'm doing all my research now while I have time so that I can BASICALLY have a clear game plan and back up plans to make it go as smooth as possible while yet still having flexibility for change.

3.) It gives me a chance to share with OTHERS info that I've found.

And hopefully AFTER the move, I want to create a "Look back" on what I planned for vs. what actually happened in hopes to help others with their move.

There is something gratifying about researching and putting the pieces together and mapping things out and seeing the steps. One of my positions at my current job was an investigator in our  Risk Management & Fraud department and I'd have to researching complaints from people that we've kicked off the site and it was always satisfying to get to the "end" of the investigation, look at all the pieces you've found to determine if what the person was saying was true or not.

hahaha guilty.

I justify it this way: 

1.) It gives me something to do to keep up the excitement about the move

2.) Most people move so quickly that they have to make rush decisions on things without time to research and then after they have settled in, realize there were better options. This way, I'm doing all my research now while I have time so that I can BASICALLY have a clear game plan and back up plans to make it go as smooth as possible while yet still having flexibility for change.

3.) It gives me a chance to share with OTHERS info that I've found.

And hopefully AFTER the move, I want to create a "Look back" on what I planned for vs. what actually happened in hopes to help others with their move.

There is something gratifying about researching and putting the pieces together and mapping things out and seeing the steps. One of my positions at my current job was an investigator in our  Risk Management & Fraud department and I'd have to researching complaints from people that we've kicked off the site and it was always satisfying to get to the "end" of the investigation, look at all the pieces you've found to determine if what the person was saying was true or not.

Hey, no need to justify it. It's great to be organised! 

Updating this thread. I've calmed down!! I got my phone taken care of, got my accounts/money sorted, got a buyer on my car, got it cleaned, finished out my last day at work, and now my dad is treating me to a massage to "ease all the stress I've been under!" What am I gonna do without my wonderful dad nearby?!

Now I just gotta finish packing and clean up my room and boy do I LOVE cleaning!! (NOT sarcasm, I genuinely love cleaning!!) And PACKING!! To join the love of my life in my favorite country!!!

I'm feeling the excitement now...!! I just had to get the hard adult stuff out of the way! I'll probably have a flare of stress at the airport/when I get there and start settling down, but as for now I'm going to revel in my excitement!

VERRYYY late to this party but YES!! Even when there's  so many positives going on or exciting stresses, stresses are still stresses and it can be hard to see or think clearly while trying to balance all of these. I can usually handle stress okay, but when it mounds it can feel like you're drowning and I've totally felt like I've hit points where I just couldn't even fight the tide anymore.

Try to just breathe and focus on the most important things that *have* to be done before you head off. Everything else you can manage is just an added bonus! Just keep thinking "what's the worst that happens?? Things are replaceable. Pack the most sentimental items on your carry-on and then think about how if the absolute worst happens, you'll have your passport and sentimental items...Everything else can be replaced or you can wait for them.

You'll be fine. You can do this!.

And although you think there isn't time, make a little time every day to just relax. Find a nice place in a park and go sit there and watch the birds for 20 minutes. that sort of thing.

It'll help, in the long run!