Rep. Zach Wamp is packing up after 16 years in Congress.
He said he has to be out of his office by Thursday and has movers in Washington loading up 70 boxes.
Rep. Wamp said his office, which has a direct view of the Capitol Building, will be highly sought by other House members.
He told Jeff Styles of WGOW Talk Radio that he has a couple of weeks of a lame-duck session left in his Congressional career that started in 1994.
Rep. Wamp, reflecting on his choice to run for governor of Tennessee and give up his safe seat and powerful committee posts, said, "Sometimes you have to stretch yourself and go out and take a chance."
He lost to fellow Republican Bill Haslam, who went on to win the governor's seat.
The post was won by Chattanooga attorney Chuck Fleischmann, who prevailed in a bitter primary fight with fellow Republican Robin Smith and other candidates. Rep. Wamp did not endorse any candidate.
Rep. Wamp has not yet announced what he plans to do next, though he has said he expects to take a position in the private business sector rather than continue in politics at this time.
He and his family live in Lookout Valley.