CNN iReport

This is my story. I lived in Florida for nearly ten years but was tired of the heat and bugs, so earlier this year I decided to move back to my home state of Ohio. Florida had become overpriced and the condo complex I lived in was depressing, with many people who just sat around with nothing to do, picking on one another for entertainment. I decided to rent a 16' truck, hire movers to pack it and hit the road.

Taking my two cats in the truck cabin with me, stocked with a latte and muffin from Starbucks, I drove. It is a looooong way from Largo, Florida to northeastern Ohio. Planning the trip in advance, I'd Mapquested the whole thing and printed the resulting maps. It's a great way to plan a trip, knowing your mileage and figuring out where to stop along the way.

It helps to rent hotel rooms in advance, too. I chose LaQuinta Inn in Savannah, Georgia because it was near the highway, they have free breakfasts, accept pets and the online rate was only $39 per night! That is the cheapest I've ever seen for a decent quality hotel. It's not fancy but affordable and comfortable. When I got there, the cats and I were quick to fall asleep. It was an eight hour drive to get there.

After Savannah, it was time to hit the road again the next afternoon. My older cat Fluffy slept on his memory foam bed, as my younger cat, Beau slept behind my seat as I drove. As we went north, I noticed the temperature getting cooler and the terrain go from flat as a pancake in Florida to very mountainous in other states like Virginia, the Carolinas and West Virginia. What a breathtaking sight to see huge mountains and valleys. It was beautiful to see all the trees in bud and blooming, as it was early spring and now I was able to see northern trees like apple, crabapple, plum and other flowering trees flower in gorgeous colors of pinks, white and purples.

By the time I got up to Pennsylvania, it was cold enough to get out a coat again. I'd been looking for Starbucks along my driving route, and the only time I saw rest stops with Starbucks on a continual basis was on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. A welcome sight!

My trip complete, I parked my truck and a friend had her Amish workmen unpack it into my new place as I got the cats situated in our new home, in the middle of a quaint old town in the historic Western Reserve area of Northeast Ohio, in the middle of Amish country. The trip was a success. It's a slower pace of life and much happier, with seasons, hometown friends and family all around and easy access to the city when needed. For anyone planning a big move, just do it. With planning and time taken to rest, it can be a fun experience. Even the cats had fun, so that's saying something.