Unexpected Moving During Pandemic

Many of you know that we moved to Chicago 18 months ago in a rush. We felt so blessed to find a little condo during the off season and negotiate an 18month lease so that we could move “in season” in Chicago if we chose to. 

Life in Chicago from a work perspective wasn’t what we planned. Greg had difficulty finding work and I separated from my move-cross-country position as the turmoil and stress were literally killing me. Less money, but we were figuring it out and making it work! I found new fulfilling work, Greg found contract work in his field and we had our head above water. 

Now we’re here in a pandemic. I’ve been laid off since mid-March and the contract work for Greg has gotten sporadic. To top it off, we found out that our landlord is selling the condo we live in and rather than being able to renew our lease the way we’d hoped, we have to move out by the end of May. 

We’re so grateful to have found a new place and got the approval today. We also got the fees and bad news that the new contract Greg was supposed to start Monday got postponed. So, here we are asking for help. 

Under normal circumstances and in a place where we have deep roots, we’d be able to gather a bunch of folks with trucks and get it done. But this is Chicago and there’s a pandemic. We’ve got move out/move in fees for both buildings that I still don’t understand. There’s 2 moving crews (move in/move out), elevators have time limits that need to be coordinated in 2 bldgs, and condo associations in 2 buildings require “fees,” which I guess are considered Welcome-to-the-neighborhood surprises. We’re hopeful Greg will be working from home, so setting up internet at the new place while having it still run here to account for any overlap is a thing. And this is in and around all the normal expenses of moving.

So, if I’ve ever made you laugh or smile, if I’ve helped you with a loan and you can pay it back, if you have the desire to help and are willing to clean out your couch cushions, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance, share at will, and know that I appreciate your good thoughts as well! Blessings to you all!