We are moving to a new home in Coonoor on 28 September 09

We are moving tomorrow to a neighborhood in Upper Coonoor called Brooklands. We are renting a two-bedroom apartment on the ground floor with a three-bedroom guest house above us. We have a view of the hills and a small valley out our front window. The new place is larger than our present apartment, is not on a busy polluted main road, is clean and quiet, has fabulous walking places, and has more people who speak English. Our yoga teacher practically lives next door, and the landlords (a couple) seem to be wonderful.
However, leaving Lingama Colony is extremely hard, and I am hoping we will be able somehow to continue our relationships with our friends here. But we know that things will never be the same. In fact, my closest friends here have all left before our moving day and will not be back until we're gone. And, I am leaving Shaggy here. Difficult leaving so many people I love.
Our landlord stopped by this evening (the night before the move) and told us that work is still being done on our house so we will be his guests in his guest house until Tuesday night. In fact, because of Navaratri holiday, they will not be able to hire a truck and people until Tuesday. So, we will go to the new house tomorrow (Vijayadashami*), a date chosen for its auspiciousness by the landlord and do a ritual of boiling milk in our new home. Krishna and I will be wearing saris, and Gopal will wear new pants and a white shirt. Bala Chandar, our landlord, will serve us lunch. Then Gopal and I may come back here to finish packing and preparing for the movers.
* "Dusserah, also known as Vijayadashmi, is celebrated on the tenth day, which follows nine days of Durga Pooja, some time in September / October.
The Tenth day of the bright half of the lunar month of Aashwayuja.
This is among the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar and comes as the finale of the nine-day festival, Navaraatri. This festival of victory is preceded by worship of Saraswati the Goddess of Learning and of Durgaa the Goddess of Strength. Grand processions of all Gods and goddesses are taken out in every town and village on this day, signifying the victory of the forces of righteousness over those of wickedness. Various have been the names of the Goddess of Strength - Durgaa, Mahaa Kaali, Mahishasura Mardini etc., under which that supreme protectress of the good and the holy put to rout, time and again, the demoniac forces and established the supremacy of the righteous. " from http://www.mypurohith.com/festivals/Vijayadasami.asp