Well, we've done it! We're currently homeless and in limbo, visiting family before we fly to Switzerland. Everyone has been very generous and helpful, which has made a difficult move much more easy to deal with. I don't think it is ever easy planning and executing an international move, and we were on our own - no company assistance on this one! Even with all the resources of the internet, it's hard to figure out what all needs to be done.
We have very helpful family and friends who offered to store anything we wanted to keep, and others who were able to use much of the furniture and miscellaneous items that we didn't want to keep/store, but didn't want to throw out either. It is hard to divest yourself of the accumulated detritus of years, but also feels rather freeing. We're going to think very hard from here on out about what we're buying, having been through this enlightening process.
The family who owns our apartment were incredibly helpful and I would recommend the place highly. We really enjoyed living there for the 5 years we were in Baltimore, it's in a great neighbourhood convenient to the university and shopping. There are people who have lived in that apartment complex for 25 or more years!
We are looking forward to discovering how to live in a new place, but will miss many things from our life in the US - most of all our friends and family.
Great big THANK YOU to everyone for all your help, you know who you are!!!!!
