We escaped from Western WA about 8-1/2 years ago. It has been wonderful and we don't miss the house.

Right now we are in Panama City Beach, Florida with sun and warm weather along with lots of Spring Breakers wearing skimpy clothes.

We too are from WA, Olympia area.  We did this same thing about 1 1/2 years ago.  We went through stuff and started getting it ready for many, many garage sales to get rid of most everything.  One day I decided to look into estate sales.  I contacted Sound Estate Management - 206-779-8542.  Sarahlynn came to the house and looked at all we have.  She needs to make a minimum of $2,000 but everything over that is yours.  We put the things we wanted to keep in our master bedroom and laundry room.  Then, she and crew came out and completely turned our house into a great showroom.  They even take the doors off your kitchem cabinets to use them for display. 

We had to leave the house for the week before the sale so they could get everything organized.  We lived in a nearby hotel and left the work up to them.

I would definitely go to her website www.oundestatesales.com.  The prices she gets are probably a little better than garage sales, but you don't have to do all the labor.  When we went back to the house afterwards it was almost totally empty.  All of our furniture had been sold, most of our "stuff" with just a few things left over.  I had a small garage sale the next weekend to get rid of the things that people don't buy at an estate sale.  I also had three charities come by and take almost everything else.  I got charity receipts so it was a great eperience.

Thanks for the suggestion, we live in Auburn so I will definitely check out her website.

Good suggestion regarding the estate sale, that might be a great way for us to deal with both of us working full time while trying to prepare for this. Thanks!!