8.15.2007

The List

Max’s company e-mailed us a 3-page checklist of all the things we need to complete before moving to Germany. So as not to completely freak out, I began working on only those items under the subheading “8-12 Weeks Before.” That’s right, folks. By the time we get back from Egypt, Max and I will be less than three months from our scheduled move date.

The strategy of taking the to-do list one subheading at a time didn’t prevent my feeling of excitement from being replaced by an overwhelming sense of drowning. You’d be amazed at everything that has to be accomplished between now and then including (but not limited to) gathering letters of credit and reference, proof of insurance, medical, dental, and eye records, meeting with the company who will handle our taxes, photographing items that will be stored, finding an appraiser to value jewelry and artwork, applying for an international drivers license, and having a lawyer draw up our wills.

And just as I thought my once charmed life was going to the dogs, I began researching how to go about bringing our pets along for this adventure. Understanding all the regulations and having the proper paperwork to bring our dog, Charlie, is enough to keep me busy for a week. (Sigh)

Adding to the stress--my condominium will be up for sale on Sunday. I think we’ve priced the unit too high, but have deferred the decision to both Max and my parents.

“You can always come down,” they say.

Oh, I’m down, all right.

Smack me around and tell me I’ve got nothing to complain about. Offer advice or words of encouragement. I’ll take either at this point.

7 comments:

kenju said...

*smack* *smack* YOU HAVE NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT! LOL

(but you can rant all you want to here; we don't care)

Jennifer Simon, Esq. said...

Hi Diane!
I took my cat with me when I lived in Mannheim and Karlsruhe. Admittedly, it was pre-9/11, so things may have been easier. In any case, as I remember it, all I needed to do was have the proper paperwork in terms of crossing through customs. The hardest administrative issue was arranging the tickets on the airline.

I would suggest trying to bring any smaller animals (little dogs or cats or god help me, rodents) on the plane rather than stowing them below. Small animals have small nasal passageways and have been known to have trouble breathing in the non-pressurized luggage areas. Also, even if your pet is good tempered and travels well, I would recommend sedating them for the trip. It`s a long flight, and they may as well sleep through it.

Viel gluck!

Anonymous said...

You might not have to worry about the wills. Intestacy laws are designed to do what most people want and unless either of you has a huge estate, you don't really have to pay much in probate. If you die without a will, the state assumes you want your property to go to your spouse. If you want something else, do a will. If you want a few specific items to go to certain people, you can probably trust Max to handle that. If you die together (god forbid), your assets are combined and split between your combined next of kin, usually both sets of parents, assuming neither of you has kids. So I'd say you should do your wills, but don't worry too much if you don't. And getting an int'l dl takes about 10 mins.

Unknown said...

Advice: breath in and out, count to ten... plan a vacation right after you arrive in Germany... just so the stress level can be keep at bay.

Ohhh and maybe some good drinks can do the trick as well. ::wink::

AmyB said...

Um, I couldn't possibly smack you around in this case, because you are behaving so much more adultlike about this than I ever could! I would probably be in a corner sobbing around right now.

Some help I am, huh?

You'll do great! The very fact that you have the list and are checking things off leads me to believe you are being just proactive enough to beat the clock. Having a vacation in the middle of this madnness, though, is EXACTLY what you need. Enjoy it while you can. ;o)

Just a trumpet player said...

Where should I send the bottle of vodka ? Looks like your gonna need it...

Repeat after me : "I'm smart, beautiful and witty. I can do this."

utenzi said...

The post-doc that we had here in the lab just returned to France this week and it was amazing how much she had to do--and that's her home country--in terms of paperwork. I don't envy you this task, Diane, but I have every confidence that you'll check off each and every item on that list.