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Hey there! My name is Ariana Varney, though you might know me as Tala or Pandora online. I currently live in the suburbs outside of Atlanta, GA, and I want to escape after my current lease ends this August.
I had plans to work for the JET Program and move to Japan this summer, but those plans have fallen through. Part of why I was doing this was to flee the USA in light of the actions of the Trump administration and its sycophants across the country. With Republicans nationwide trying to limit the expression, healthcare, and documentation of queer people, I no longer feel safe living in a red state. I want to move to WA, preferably near Seattle, where I have friends and found family, in a state that isn't likely to take away my healthcare and (try to) strip me of my identity. The Seattle area is also where my career aspirations would have taken me eventually, so I need to make this move sometime anyway.
However, I am a full-time freelance artist and a full-time college student, meaning I have no savings to help me with this move. I'm asking for your assistance in helping me move to a safer area, one where I could still have a support network.
What the money would be spent on:
- Car maintenance- I'm planning on loading up my car and making the 40+ hour drive from Atlanta to Seattle. I want to make sure my car will survive the journey
- Fuel- Based on previous long-hauls I've driven in this car, it can go for 4-5 hours before needing refueling, and costs $25-$35 each time, depending on an area's price (this will most likely be different with a fully-loaded car and a passenger, however).
- Flights- I may have someone from the PNW to help me make the drive, but I'll need to fly them out to Atlanta, first. In addition, I am planning on leaving my cat Haru in Atlanta while I make the drive, then flying back out to Atlanta to fly him to Seattle. I do not want to make a 40+ hour drive with a cat in a fully-loaded car. That'd be miserable for both of us.
- Housing- I plan to quit being a full-time artist and to find a job in Seattle, but still do art on the side for additional income. Until I'm fully settled in, however, I want to make sure I can still pay rent and anything else I may need for housing.
- Furniture (tentatively)- In order to make the trip with just my car, I'll need to sell/donate my larger furniture items. Meaning that when I get to Seattle, I'll need at least (in descending order of immediate importance): a mattress, a dresser, and a desk/chair.
- Surprises- Unforeseen things are bound to pop up during this process.
If I can raise enough money, I may look into a U-Box from U-Haul. From my research, it seems to be the most affordable way to get larger items across the country, at ~$1600. I have a dresser and nightstand that have been with me for more than half of my life at this point, and are two of the final physical connections I have to my childhood and my parents who gave them to me. I'd very much like to keep them if at all possible, but I will accept the loss if it proves to be too expensive. Items can ultimately be replaced, I just want to get somewhere safe.
Thank you for reading this far and for your consideration. If you've ever gotten felt joy or appreciation for my work, I would greatly appreciate any help you can give, even if it's just sending a few dollars or simply sharing this page around. Please.