Oy.
For anyone who's dealt with the mind-numbing, feet-aching, help-me-I-can't-stop-sneezing...when-was-the-last-time-I-dusted-anyway? chaos of moving...you have my sincere respect and empathy.
Changing residences is probably one of the only times where one honestly wishes for less stuff. Every time Patrick, Tom or Mike trundled in with another piece of furniture, another box, or another (God help me) hastily-filled Rubbermaid container (most likely unmarked) a little part of my sanity peeled away. By the 200th "Where does this go?" I found myself staring helplessly at them...uncharacteristically mute.
The joke after a while was that they'd stopped unloading my stuff an hour ago and had moved onto someone else's. At one point, I do believe I told them I didn't care where they put it...I trusted they'd find the best location. So, I'd entered the surreal dimension of Kathrynville...where moving guys determine furniture placement and spotting the cable guy was practically a religious experience.
Last night, I couldn't find the power cord to my television and was literally reduced to tears. I knew I'd probably be asleep before my head hit the pillow...but I wanted those few precious minutes of familiarity amidst all this upheaval, dammit. The scariest part was I'd no recollection of disconnecting it...even though it was earlier that day...and I drifted off to sleep trying to conjure up a mental snapshot of the exact moment I pulled the plug. The wire turned up sometime this morning...but I couldn't for the life of me tell you where I found it.
So.
Tomorrow, internet life shall resume. I've missed you guys more than you'll know. The longing to boot up and just take a quick peek inside was palpable...and as I hit the light switch for the final time before walking out the door of the old place, I could swear I heard the closing music from the show Cheers...and I smiled.
Here's to new beginnings...and all the joy and chaos that inevitably comes along for the ride.
Bring it on. It's so great to be back!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
S-T-U-F-F
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I have told my husband for the last 10 years that I will NEVER move again ... unless he can provide me with a way to sell off everything in this house, and refurnish completely (clothing, linens, etc, included) the new house.
kudos to you for doing it ... and finding the power cord. I would have sent hubby off to buy a new one and then never told him when I found the old ;0)
Ah, so good to hear that you'll finally be back!!
Sorry you got so stressed out. :( But you deserve to have some form of a meltdown, so just let it out, breathe, sleep, and settle back in. I know you can.
I've moved a few times before but those memories are around the time when I was only a few years old, so I can't remember. But the thought of packing all of our stuff up and shipping it somewhere else almost gives me a stroke.
Best of luck!
There is nothing more stressful and exhausting than moving!! I've missed you. I hope things are going well...
Yippee! Welcome back!
I'm probably one of the only people who doesn't mind moving. Until I moved to my current house, I was moving every year. So I got very good at not keeping anything that I wasn't going to use, I would have a big clear out each time. However, I am terrified if we ever move now, because we've been in our home for 5 years and I know I've accumulated loads of stuff that just doesn't really have a home. Luckily I'm not a hoarder and can be pretty ruthless.
Well done - take time to settle in and get the place homey, don't panic about getting it all done straight away.
I think to myself, when I move to another country I am just going to somehow magically vac pac my life into one of those bags, then shove it in a multi dimensional cube and stick it in my pocket
Glad to see you getting through the chaos in more or less one peice
Yep, welcome back. Glad you can see the light at the end of the tunnel! But watch out for that train.
Believe me I feel your pain….
Our last move was spread over 365 days. We moved into our new house a year to the day we moved out of the old one. In-between we moved in with my sister who sold her house (not while we were out, I might add) and moved with her to her new home. Shortly after this my sister became pregnant so we decided to move out to give her and her husband some ‘them’ time. My best man and his wife insisted that we moved in with them rather than rent. Our stuff was split between about 4 people’s houses and a storage facility. We spent most weekends’ house hunting, it was a grim time, I can tell you….As a foot note both marriages ended shortly after we moved out. Nothing to do with us, unless it was because they missed us so much….
Never again....I'm going out of here in a box and not a Rubbermaid one...
To new beginnings baby! I've missed your words of wisdom more than you know.
Hi
Good luck with the unpacking of the boxes.
We've moved 2 years ago and I can still remember it as if it was yesterday. I hate moving, but when everything is in place than you start to love your new home. Believe me. :)
After my last move almost two years ago, which involved stuff from one huge house(15 years of unsorted crap and leftover divorce detritus) and stuff I'd shipped from overseas all to be stuffed into a house half the size I told my hub that the only move I'm doing in the future is the one to the cemetery.We are still unpacking and sorting and throwing out crap even now.
Take your time..remember do the important stuff first, kitchen, computer, bedrooms. :)
YAY! Welcome back! I'm sorry to hear about the trauma you've endured so bravely. I've never moved before, but you've made it sound like an epic battle of good an evil. Given the tears I think you're the good guy. Maybe I'll make up an award for that and give it to you.
Last time I moved, all I could say was "If I had enough money, I would just buy all new stuff..." haha Moving SUCKS.
I'm out of the loop! Where are you moving to? Good luck with unpacking and breathe.
Welcome back!
So glad you're back! I do hope you find that cord, as it's finale week on TV. Yes, I will be stuck to the couch for the next couple of days myself. :) Now that everything is in the new place, you can relax, at least a little.
Count the days and see how long it takes before you realize that ROUTINE has set in!
Just curious!
I'm so happy for you.
John
The mad rush is over, yay! I know what you mean about STUFF, I've been trying to pare down and purge myself. I don't like the feeling that all this STUFF has such control over me...where to store it, take care of it, worry about something happening to it, etc. It really is insane how much we have.
Perhaps while everything is still in boxes, as you begin to unpack, you can start sorting for a future yard sale? Declutter AND make money, a win-win situation. :) Glad you survived the chaos!
Nothing sucks, like moving sucks. Period. The worst is over and you can begin to get back to normal.
Thank God you're back though - you were missed!
Great to have you back! I missed you!
YAY! Welcome back sweetie!
Ahh... the closing music from Cheers. Isn't that a bittersweet moment, the last time you look at your place? I am both dreading and looking forward to that, in the place I'm at now...
Like you mentioned, the only good thing about moving is the opportunity to purge. Talking about the excess stuff in our lives, though you might have a physical reaction, too.
My non-typical-straight-guy-moving-fantasy? Someday, I'd like to hire a top notch "relocation firm" and open my doors and say, "I haven't packed, but I'm going on vacation now. Please set up something similar at the new place and I'll see you in 2 weeks. Oh yeah, turn on the cable and fill the fridge while you're at it."
Best wishes.
I hope the unpacking is going well...
O.O wow that was badder then my fourth move in the Us ha ha anyways while going threw old pictures trying to get the courage to tell my brother's that i want to move away from the house i saw a picture of all four us on the floor watching tv tell that isnt a picture you never want to forget ^ ^ glade your back
The last time we move I firmly stated that I was not going to do it again...and if I had to we were hiring people to pack, clean, move, and set up the new residence. I can't think of anything more I dread than having to move....so I sympathize completely.
I've missed you. A big bunch.
Kathryn, you are amazing! You can get through this. In with the Tai, out with the Chi LOL. Breathe in deeply while saying that first sentence and deeply exhale while saying the last. I do this some times and tell people around me at work to do it when it seems they are stressed out. If nothing else, it makes them laugh! And laughing out loud calms you down. So glad you're back in action. Looking forward to you next blogging experience =)
Yay for you getting moved!!! And yay for back to internet time! We've missed you.
Hope it all goes well and your "settle in" time is blissful.
♥Spot
Were the moving guys at least hot?
That's the only thing that makes moving tolerable.
diane rene: HA! LOVE the idea of just buying a new cord and never telling hubby...I came dangerously close to hitting Best Buy in pure desperation!
Moving's a bi-atch right?
Oddyoddyo13: Aw...thanks for the sympathy, sweetie! Moving all your stuff is no walk in the park...thank GOD we generally don't have to do it often. I've missed you!
Maureen@IslandRoar: Amen to that! I've missed you too...it's felt surreal to walk past my sleeping computer and not touch it. I didn't like it!
Momma Fargo: YES! Finally! A bit of a false start but I'm back NOW...thanks!
Runnergirl: Thanks, sweetie. You moved every year?? Yikes! Although, I can definitely see that affecting how much crap you keep around. I'm finding the hardest stuff is that sentimental stuff...there's never any place to store it.
Rambles'N'Shambles: HEY! I'm so glad to see you! I'm loving the visual of vacuum-sealing all my possessions in those space-saver bags....oh man, could I have used those!
Alan W. Davidson: Ha...that's one big mutha of a train, I'll tell you. I think this is the longest I've ever been away from Blogville and I don't like it one bit. I'm very happy to be back!
BlackLOG: Oh, God...I'm cringing just reading your comment. You've definitely given me some much-needed prospective...and I'm so sure that their marriage seemed lackluster after you guys left!
Carol: Thank you, sweetie! I'm soooo glad it's over...but it sounds like my move was pretty typical fare. Now, it's back to the important stuff, ie: here!
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