The Grand Move
Exercise in Moving our Lives
The Paper Trails and Packing Lists
We've felt like we're constantly juggling, spinning multiple plates,
and the process is proving to be incredibly time-consuming and frankly –
exhausting. There are moments when the sheer difficulty of this international
relocation makes us question our sanity, but then we remember the 'why' – the
community, the family, and the sense of peace that awaits us – and we push on.
The first major piece is in place: we have selected our moving
company. Getting the logistics for shipping our household goods organized was a
huge hurdle cleared, giving us a fixed timeline to work toward. Now, the rest
of the dominoes are starting to fall into place.
Our next immediate focus is on the most significant American asset
we own: our Portland home. We are currently interviewing realtors to select the
right partner to sell our house. This decision feels monumental; we need
someone who understands the market and can shepherd us through the sale process
quickly and efficiently, as this is the linchpin for so much of our planning.
Simultaneously, we're wading through thirty years of accumulated
possessions. We've decided to move forward by selecting an estate sale company.
Sifting through those items, deciding what to keep, what to sell, and what to
simply let go of, is an intensely emotional experience – a constant, tangible
reminder of the life we are leaving behind.
Perhaps the most complicated and anxiety-inducing piece of the
puzzle, however, has been the financial and tax implications. Navigating the
tax laws for two different countries, especially as we sell a major asset and
shift jurisdictions, is a minefield. We searched high and low, enduring
countless dead ends and frustrating conversations, but we finally found a
brilliant and highly specialized tax accountant. They will file our complicated
US/Australian taxes, providing an invaluable sense of relief. Knowing we have
expert help to ensure we comply with both the IRS and the ATO is one less
massive worry hanging over us.
This chapter of 'Goodbye USA' is less poetic and more prosaic – it’s
about endless forms, waiting on hold, and signing mountains of documents. But
with every task checked off, with every box taped shut, the beautiful, complex
paradox of our decision swings more heavily toward the joy of the new horizon.
Melbourne, here we come!
We know the difficulty is a temporary season, and soon, we'll be
trading the stress of paperwork for the sound of Australian voices.