My mailbox flag was up for 2 days before I took the mail out and drove it to the post office.

I am honestly giving it a full 100% effort to remain positive about our relocation to Connecticut, but some days it really does feel like an impossible feat.

Back in Central New York, my mail person was the sweetest man who would leave treats for my dogs every day and was happy to knock on my door, bring my packages and say hello. I knew him by name and we gave him gifts every Christmas.

I have lived in Connecticut for over 4 months and have no idea who brings my mail or what their delivery schedule is... AND I work from home, which was not the case in New York.

Today, I drove to the local post office to hand deliver the mail that had been sitting in my box for 2 days.  I asked the postal worker at the desk if he could tell me who my mail person was and what the delivery schedule is.  He said I would need to call before 9am to get the schedule and delivery person for that day.  He also noted that mail delivery people do not stop at every house every day.  I was in complete shock to hear that. 

Don't my taxes pay for the postal workers?  Don't my taxes pay for them to bring me my mail - every day?

Why do I feel like every time I have a Connecticut complaint, taxes come into the conversation...

Negativity is never something I prefer to promote but I need to put the truth out there because this is just down right frustrating. I think the only people who can really love Connecticut are those who have history here... otherwise, I'm wondering what there is to love about living here?

The bottom line is that if I want to mail something, I guess I drive it to the post office.  The post office that is 1.9 miles away but will take 9 minutes to drive there and involves a right, a left, another right, and another left and then a left into the post office parking lot. #newengland

June 21 2018

Checklist of responsibilities for your move to a new state.

There are so many responsibilities and costs that come with a move to another state. Here are a few that have drained my pockets this past month.

• Get a new drivers license - $112 in CT **
• Register vehicles, get new plates, $127 per vehicle, plus tax in CT
• Register camper, get new plates, $127, plus tax in CT
• Register pets, $8 each in CT - if spayed/neutered
• Change address at post office, $1 online **
• Upfront cost of new gas and electric service
• Upfront cost of new cable/phone/internet service - Est $300
• Data usage on your phone to use map app to get anywhere in your new unfamiliar location **
• Groceries. Expect to leave everything in the fridge and freezer behind. They don't travel well.
  

** POST OFFICE: Be careful when changing your address at the US Post office online, when you give them your cell phone number, (required) they add you to a list of sales calls and I have now repeatedly and daily, received sales text messages since my move.
** DATA: For 2 months now I have gone over my data usage allowance on my cell phone because I have needed directions everywhere I go.
** DMV: Scroll down for your checklist of what to bring to the DMV if you have moved to Connecticut.  Sadly, I had to make the trip 2x and each visit was over 6 hours.

I have moved several times in my life prior to this but usually it was within the same County. These are things I didn't think about when we moved 5 hours away from home...

• Find a new grocery store to shop at
• Find a new family doctor
  
• Find a new hairdresser
  
• Find a new Vet
  
• Find a new pet groomer
  

Connecticut DMV packing list:

- Breakfast
- Gallon of water
- Essential oils for relaxation
- Camping chair
- Sleeping bag
- Lunch
- Book (s)
- Credit card with large limit
- Cash for the cash only cafe
- Patience
- Prozak
- Anti-bacterial wipes
- Redbull
- Oh, and your pre-filled out, pre-printed paperwork and supporting documents.