Getting ready to go

Moving to the north is a unique endeavour.  Having grown up in a military family, moving is second-nature to me. A typical move, while daunting, can be broken down into very manageable parts:

1) Go through your stuff.  Don't bother packing what you haven't used in years.
2) Have a garage sale.  May as well make some money off the stuff you no longer need!
3) Arrange to pack up your stuff, or have it packed for you by the moving company.
4) Coordinate your arrival at your new home with the moving company.  This usually means spending some time on the road staying in hotels.  Sometimes it means rushing to get to your destination in time to meet the movers (who have all of your stuff).
5) Unpack.  This can be tedious, but is not especially difficult.

If you use a U-Haul, the move becomes even more simple.  Get boxes. Pack up your stuff.  Put it in the rental truck.  Drive to your new house/apartment.  Unpack.

Moving to the north, however, not so simple.

1) Find someone to rent your home, because this will not be a permanent move, only a little "adventure".

2) Go through your stuff and figure out what's coming and what's staying. (We are moving into a mostly furnished home.  This means we don't need to take much furniture or kitchen supplies.) Keep in mind your things will be moved via air cargo, which is notoriously bad on breakables.

3) Figure out what you will absolutely NEED up north that you do not currently own because you don't live in a refrigerator.  Like a super warm coat--not just any old coat you can pick up at Mountain Equipment Co-op or Patagonia, but an authentic ludicrously expensive Arctic-rated Canada Goose Parka.  Each member of your family will need such a parka.

Nunavut staple: The Canada Goose Parka

You will need to buy these well ahead of time because you will be moving in the summer, when supply and sizes are low.  This will mean guesstimating how large your children will be six months from now, and hoping everything fits all next winter. Which will last 10 months. Easy!  Buy crazy warm-rated mittens, hats, snow pants, snow boots, etc., also 6 months in advance. (Keep in mind that you'll likely be picking up sealskin mittens at some point also.  The Inuit are really on to something there.)

4) Realize that not only will you need to bring up the warm weather supplies, you will also need to purchase other goods not readily available in the arctic. There are two main "department stores" (I use the term loosely) in Iqaluit.  They have a mix of various things available, and not a lot of selection.  You're all set if you want to buy a snowmobile (though the store may only stock one model of one brand). Or average sized men's winter boots. A generic mixing bowl or other kitchen supplies, as long as you aren't picky.

Northmart: grocery store (plus more!)
Photo courtesy of hothtrek.wordpress.com

Essential stuff waiting to be packed.

Anything specialized you will need to bring yourself or have shipped up later (expensive). Sporting equipment for the kids!  Yes, there is a hockey league for DJ to play on, but better bring up all your gear!  And make sure it will fit next year!  Make-up! Cooking spices! Toys! Christmas gifts for next Christmas! Electronics! Yarn (as my goal is to learn to knit)! Want to watch television?  Better burn as many of those movies and TV episodes onto a portable hard-drive that you can, after all: internet is CAPPED (not to mention slow)!  No more Netflix marathons! And its not just internet that you won't have access to, its alcohol too.  If you want wine or beer, better pack it!  Only your moving company will not pack liquids.  The booze supply will need to travel with you to the airport, which is TWO DAYS AWAY.

  Foundation IS a necessity.

5) Yes, you will be driving for two days to catch your flight because you have pets.  This means driving with them for two days from Thunder Bay, Ontario, to Ottawa, since you are traveling in summer (when airlines often won't allow animals to travel as cargo) and would be making connecting flights (also a no-no most of the time with animals). Iqaluit is not reachable by road, so flying is your only option. The only flights to Iqaluit leave from Ottawa, Ontario.  In a way, we are lucky to be only a two day drive away.

2) Rent two passenger vans.  You, your hubby, your mother (who is coming to help out for the first month), two children, dog (plus airline approved travel crate), cat, and luggage will not fit into one van.  Did I mention it will take the movers an estimated 8 weeks to get your things to Iqaluit?  You need to have supplies to last you for 2 months until your belongings arrive.  Luckily the northern airlines realize this and allow you to check (for a price) a crazy number of suitcases per person traveling. So, we need room for 15 suitcases in the van (towels, bedsheets, jackets, clothing, school supplies, kitty litter, litter box, toys, etc.).

6) Get confused as to which supplies you have purchased and which you have forgotten.  Make a list.  Start crossing things off, then forget to cross things off. Go through the maze of things stored in the basement to double check that yes, you did in fact pick up a year's supply of contact lenses already.
Six months ago.

......To Be Continued