(This is cross-posted at BlogHer.)
By this time next week, I’ll have moved all (or most) of my belongings from the current two-bedroom apartment I share with a roommate to a studio that I’ll be living in by myself. I was off work last week, so I spent a chunk of that time doing the required organizing and packing-up of my belongings.
While the act of moving isn’t high on my list of fun things to do, I actually do enjoy going through my things and deciding what needs to stay and what can go. I’ve been packing paper grocery bags with all the random items I’ve deemed unnecessary — I’m up to six bags at this point filled with things that I need to give away. Clothes, shoes, spice rack, cordless telephone, plastic water bottles, and oh, so much more.
When Friday rolled around and I realized that I’d been spending more time organizing than packing, I turned on some music and started pulling out the boxes I’d saved. It was time to get serious. I have to go back to work next week and after that I’ll only have time to pack in the evenings — and next Saturday, moving day, will be here before I know it. I spent about six hours packing on Friday, with only a few short breaks to eat a snack or check my email. It took me longer than I expected to pack up the kitchen, linen closet, and most of the things from my bedroom. It was tiring, but very productive.
My mom, stepdad, and my two brothers (ages 17 and 21) are driving up from Richmond to help me move, and I also recruited a male friend who lives in the area because I needed another pair of strong arms. (My stepdad fell and hurt his ribcage a few weeks ago, so he let me know in advance that he wouldn’t be able to carry anything heavy.) I’ll let my friend and the older of my two brothers lift the living room furniture and massive bedroom dresser, which means the smaller furniture, boxes, and other random things should go quickly.
Next week at this time, I’ll be moved in and surrounded by boxes. I’ll be deciding where things should go and what I still need to purchase (there are some things that I definitely need, like a TV stand and coffee table, but I’m not in a rush to get them before I move and I kind of want to see how everything looks in the space first).
To me, the biggest pain involved with moving is taking care of the details I’d rather not have to bother with. Like dropping off the things I don’t want anymore at Goodwill. Reserving a moving truck. Making sure I can use the apartment’s freight elevator at a certain time.
I just keep telling myself that these are small inconveniences, and indeed, as I check them off they don’t seem so bad. After all, I know the trouble will be worth it.
Related Reading:
Just Fine Just Dandy is moving in a few weeks. She asks, “Do you look around and think, ‘Oh, this won’t be too bad. I don’t have that many things to pack up.’ Then come moving day and the stuff to pack seems never ending?” (My answer: yes, that’s exactly what happened to me.)
Whether you have a lot of stuff or not very much at all, packing is still a pain. Musings From a Brooklyn Native is going from Vienna to New York to Geneva, but luckily she only has a few suitcases and duffle bags to worry about.
Knot Watt Ewe Think had a lot of crafty materials to go through when she moved back in October.
7 Comments
Have a fun and stress-free move!
I love getting rid of stuff too — and I also love having my own place 
huzzah for dropping stuff off at goodwill instead of just trashing them. And congrats on the new place! I’m jealous
I also don’t like the act of moving, but I do like settling into a new space. I’ll be excited to see it one of these days.
Hope the move goes smoothly! Good for you for donating so much. I always love that process – purging for you, but sending the items on to someone who needs them. You’ll have to share some pics of the new place. Congrats again
Moving is so exciting. Here’s hoping it’s as hassle-free as possible! I’m with you on those minor inconveniences being the most irritating part about it all
Yay for Goodwill instead of trash! Another option: I gave a way a TON of my stuff on Craig’s List during my last move – I just posted it all in the FREE section, and voila it was gone! Within hours! Best of luck with your move
Moving is so startling, yet so soul-satisfying (at least for me), that I hardly know what to think each time I do it (and I’ve done it quite a lot). For the most part, I find that once the trauma of the actual physical move is over, the sheer wonder of newness more than makes up for the annoying shifting of possessions bit. I hope your day is smooth and wondorous, as all moving days should be!
Moving certainly is stressful – I went through the whole process a month ago – but often not as bad when you look back. Plus, this is an exciting move! You’ll finally have a place to yourself, which will make all this initial hassle very worth it. Good luck! Can’t wait to read about the new place