I've been referring to my new job location as TempCollege Village because that is what it is: a freakin' village. A "city" of approximately 8,000. There are some traffic lights, but there is no target within a two hour radius. There is a McDonald's but no Walmart closer than 30 minutes. I know this thanks to google maps but also warnings from the Unofficially Faculty Handbook, which details all the retail and cultural offerings in TempCollege Village (hint: it's shorter than some of my undergrad papers).
So as a result, I've had to get very organized about what I will need when I move. I'm used to being able to pop over to the store whenever I need a trash can, wine, or a light bulb. Sure, the TempCollege Village grocery store will carry some of those items, at a price. I've begun compiling my (rather extensive) list of items I will need for the bathroom and kitchen once I move. I've also already bought the bare essentials like a shower curtain, a roll of toilet paper, etc.
But my favorite purchase so far is my day planner. I used to put everything in my planner. I vividly remember one spring break where I thought it had been left behind at a hotel. It wasn't pretty (lucky, it had been accidently stashed in my brother's luggage). My first year of grad school, I heavily used the standard LargeU day planner. After I got done with classes, I moved away from the planners, mostly using iCal. But no matter how many hours I'm in front of a computer, I still like to write things out. I can see them better, and I can take my day planner out at meetings while my laptop is a little more obtrusive. So I went to Target and picked out a plain, 8.5 x 11" spiral-bound day planner.
I'm a control freak. Now that I have some semblance of control over my move, I'm much calmer about the whole event. N.A. is pleased with the result, although a little bemused at my joy at possessing such a basic day planner.
