How to PCS - Part 2

Orchestrating a cross-country move for two toddlers, one husband, one dog and one goldfish does not sound easy but veteran spouse Maryanna Annibale says most of the hard work is already behind her.

"I start planning months in advance," she said.

The Annibale family is gearing up for a PCS, along with thousands of other military folks, and because the Marine Corps spouse has already cleaned out closets, cupboards and junk drawers, she is now tackling the details by arranging pooch-friendly hotels, visits with friends and mini excursions to spice up their fourth move. 

"Sightseeing and finding a zoo or aquarium that the children will enjoy is part of the planning," said Annibale. "But it’s also a great way to keep them active and help burn off energy during long days on the road."

In the final weeks before the move, Annibale says she also lays out all the toiletries, clothes and medicine that her family will need for the nine-day road trip from Arizona to Washington D.C.

Here are a few other tips and suggestions for the final weeks before your PCS:

1. Arrange to stay at a friend’s house or book a hotel on the days the packers are at your house and book a hotel room near your new post.
2. Map out the drive to your new duty station.  Ob-base lodging is always a good bet and utilizing web sites like www.pcs-lodging.com (twitter handle:  @pcslodging) and Triple A’s TripTik™ will help you plan the route, book hotels, organize outings and even find the cheapest gas along the way. Pet owners should make sure hotels or base lodges are fur-friendly before booking. 
3. Check your vehicles’ tires, fluid levels and oil. 
4. Take a break from Costco and Sam’s Club. That box of 250 granola bars may not be so appetizing after roasting in your car for two weeks.  Now is also a good time to start eating and cooking your way through the pantry.  Channel your inner Julia Child and get creative with those few remaining boxes of pasta and cans of bean sprouts.   If all else fails, drop off the leftover non-perishables at your local food pantry. 
5. Go through bookshelves, kitchen cupboards, winter and summer clothes, shoes and the basement one final time.  Check with vets’ organizations like Purple Hearts (www.purpleheartpickups.org) and donate your gently used books, clothes and knick-knacks.  Take used magazines to your doc’s office (and grab a copy of your medical records while you are there!) but be sure and rip off your address label. 
6. Obtain copies of you and your children’s medical records from your physicians and dentists and grab a copy of pet records too. 
7. Finalize any utility shut off and turn on dates.
8. Change the address on the following: magazine subscriptions, airline mile programs, banking institutions, cell phone carriers, and insurance agencies. 
9. Pack the following items carefully and plan on carrying them with you on the road trip:  jewelry, financial records, legal documents, photo albums and any other family records.  (visit www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil for further details)

Sound like a lot?  It... but with patience and a clear strategy, this PCS can be painless and even fun. And according to Annibale, there is an upside to moving.  "The road trip is a nice chance to spend some quality, uninterrupted time with my husband and family!"