If your kid goes to a school 8+ hours away, and you helped move them out of the dorm

[Anonymous]

I have done this multiple times OP.

It is exhausting.

Yes, best to sleep over the night before than move items if possible. Or go the storage route or Dorm movers.

Either way too much after driving 9 hours.

[Anonymous]

I'm mid 50s and have been driving DC to Boston for years. I stop at least 3 times to stretch and get the blood flowing, refill the water, eat something healthy(ish). I avoid as much of 95 as I can. Personally, I think Connecticut traffic is the worst.

I usually drive up, take kids to dinner, stay in a hotel, help pack the car in the morning and then we do shifts driving home.

There really isn't anything my kid would be storing up at school. He brings home the computer equipment and clothes. It's really the computer equipment that makes the drive necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably DMV to Boston, and I95 sucks - always. When we moved our son up, we left super early and drove up the day before, had a leisurely dinner, and then move in day. We spent another night, had brunch with our son and left.

He flew home for Thanksgiving, winter break and spring break. End of term, he put stuff in storage and flew home ($300 for storage for the summer, they dropped off empty boxes and packing tape, picked up the boxes and will return them when/where needed in the fall, flight home was $150). Cost totally worth us not having to drive up and back now and in the Fall.

We will likely fly up in the Fall to drop him off/help get the new dorm set up and do some shopping before the start of the Fall term - we'll do that over a weekend

If Boston, I have this trek in my near future. Not looking forward to it. At least there are great flight options.
OT but can you confirm summer storage all in is $300 in Boston? We have one kid ai Miami and it adds up to be a lot more (including storage in Fl really must be air conditioned). Just looking into this for our kid in Boston.

NP with a kid at a Boston school and we pay more than $300 for storage. It's based on the number and size of the boxes you're storing. DC usually has about 5 boxes and a mini fridge, and IIRC it's closer to $500. The price includes on campus pick up from a central location DC takes the stuff to (in room pick up is available for an additional $100), and delivery directly to the room so it's there on arrival in the fall. Totally worth it to us. There are probably ways to lower the cost including cheaper companies - we use the school selected one that is allowed access to the dorms for pick up/drop off for that convenience but they're not necessarily the least expensive, and cutting down on what you store. DC stores everything, no bringing home the bulky winter gear during spring break or throwing out linens to replace them later, for example.

Just did this 10 hours south. We drove for drop off, but flew home and stored stuff there for the summer. Depending on where your kid is, this was so much better, especially for my kid who was coming off of a grueling finals week without time to do much before I got there. Flew in the night before and packed up what he was storing that night. We tried to limit what we packed to store as much as possible and threw away some storage bins which are cheaper to replace than store. Flew home on Southwest with 4 big duffels (Amazon basics which I highly recommend) and paid for 2 extra suitcases. It obviously depends on how much your kid has, but it relatively painless and so much better than driving that far in 2 days! I get that it costs more but if you book early and can fly Southwest with 2 bags free, it’s really not that much more than driving and paying for gas. Storage is extra, but some kids save money by renting a U-Haul and sharing storage places too.

[Anonymous]

Yes. You’re out of shape. You asked the question . I’m 50 and could have done that without feeling horrible.

My kids are across the country so we have to fly. We put stuff in storage but it still involves moving out of the dorm/ apartment. It is hard work but if you’re in shape it’s manageable

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old are you? Are you super out of shape?

I am 40 and could do all that plus go for a run later in the day.

"Smug" is not a good look PP
And when you say this to people in real time they may smile quietly but they are embarrassed for you. They just won't say so to your face.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old are you? Are you super out of shape?

I am 40 and could do all that plus go for a run later in the day.

"Smug" is not a good look PP
And when you say this to people in real time they may smile quietly but they are embarrassed for you. They just won't say so to your face.

OP asked if she was out of shape. She is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. You’re out of shape. You asked the question . I’m 50 and could have done that without feeling horrible.

My kids are across the country so we have to fly. We put stuff in storage but it still involves moving out of the dorm/ apartment. It is hard work but if you’re in shape it’s manageable

Sorry but flying to a destination vs. driving 9 hrs are completely different universes. You really can not compare your experience of being delivered to your destination to OP's who actively drove the entire way.

[Anonymous]

I’m heading out on Monday to help my daughter move out of her dorm. I’ll drive the 7 hours on Monday and move her out the next day and drive straight home. I’d be exhausted doing it the day of. She is keeping somethings in storage.

[Anonymous]

I drive up the day before. Get a good night's sleep in a hotel and move DC out the next morning. We take turns driving home. Works perfectly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. You’re out of shape. You asked the question . I’m 50 and could have done that without feeling horrible.

My kids are across the country so we have to fly. We put stuff in storage but it still involves moving out of the dorm/ apartment. It is hard work but if you’re in shape it’s manageable

Sorry but flying to a destination vs. driving 9 hrs are completely different universes. You really can not compare your experience of being delivered to your destination to OP's who actively drove the entire way.

She’s still way of of shape

[Anonymous]

So glad my kid ended up choosing school much closer to home. The admit day beets solidified what a PIA the distance was.

[Anonymous]

^events

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We drive out day before, have a loading day, then home the next day. Two days is too short for that much driving and moving. Plus, we enjoy the college town and check out local restaurants while we are there.

+1. I would never do this in one day, not because it’s impossible, but because it’s unpleasant and unnecessary (if I can afford a hotel).

And I hate driving next to jersey walls, too, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. You’re out of shape. You asked the question . I’m 50 and could have done that without feeling horrible.

My kids are across the country so we have to fly. We put stuff in storage but it still involves moving out of the dorm/ apartment. It is hard work but if you’re in shape it’s manageable

Sorry but flying to a destination vs. driving 9 hrs are completely different universes. You really can not compare your experience of being delivered to your destination to OP's who actively drove the entire way.

She’s still way of of shape

The whole point of the post from OP was to find out if posters think she's out of shape. As a late 50s woman who wouldn't have a problem packing up a car after a 9-hour drive, and would in fact welcome the activity after sitting in a car all day, the answer is "probably yes."

[Anonymous]

OP here
Thanks for the feedback everyone. I agree we really should have just moved him out the next day. The dorms require the student to move out within 24 hours of the student's last final exam (which varies by student and the classes they are taking) so he would have had to be completely out, cleaned up, and key turned in by noon the next day.

My youngest kid will also be in college in the fall at a school that's even further away by 3 hours so I will definitely keep this mind for the future.