Now that we’ve made a decision that we’re actually doing this thing, it’s time to get serious. There is SO much to do before we can make the move. First, we need to decide on a date. We know the Frenchies can’t fly until after October at the earliest – they’re squishy-faced dogs, which requires some special maneuvering. As a breed, they don’t handle heat well, nor do they handle flying very well – so most airlines won’t allow them to fly when it’s too warm or too cold on any leg of the flight. Which means we have to be very strategic – it rarely gets “too cold” on the Vietnam side, but rarely “too warm” on the US side. There’s a fairly narrow window that works for our boys. Basically, we’re likely (not guaranteed) to be able to move them in November-December. Crossing our fingers.
But – that brings up a whole other question. Are they actually fit to fly?? Time to call a specialist to have them evaluated for BOAS to make sure their airways are clear enough that they won’t have breathing issues in the air. This is the part that has me the most nervous. My babies might need surgery, and even that is not a guarantee. I’m terrified of having them under anesthesia – it took a LOT for me to agree to have Bennie neutered. Not that I wanted puppies – I was just scared of losing him. But it wasn’t fair to either him or Blue for only one of them to be neutered, so it had to happen.
And honestly, the dogs are just the beginning.
Next, it’s time to call the realtor – Dillon Pulos at Icon Real Estate is amazing, BTW! If you ever need help buying or selling a home, he’s a great one to call. Dillon helped us move mom to Washington from Texas about a year ago, and now, he’s about to help us all move again.
But before Dillon can put a sign in the yard, I have to face the nightmare of all our stuff. And decide what to keep. This is going to be the purge of a lifetime. Part of me welcomes this – it’s depressing being beholden to so much stuff. But at the same time, there are 20 years worth of memories here. How do I decide what makes the cut?
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