It has been quite a while since I've posted. The contractor still hasn't begun the work on the house. It will have to be entirely re-bricked, and they don't know what they will find when they get the brick off.
So we have decided to buy a new house not too far from here--in a neighborhood that the tornado missed by a hair's breadth. We should close on Dec. 10th and will be moving in around the 15th. I'm stunned at the stuff, I've accumulated. Me. Fee's stuff is minimal in comparison. The problem is that the new house is smaller than this one, so we are going to have to be more efficient.
Packing up the sewing room and getting rid of a lot, but still so much to go. And books! I've donated around 100 books so far this year to an assisted living home and to the library, and now have to get rid of more. Have about 50 bagged up and ready to go, but now things are slowing down, and I'm having trouble deciding what to keep and what to give away. I don't keep a lot of fiction, the ones I keep are mostly nonfiction--cooking, yoga, quilting, embroidery, and gardening books, but I use them all for reference.
OK, back to packing!
Ohmygosh, Jen! Such changes...I had no idea your damage was that extensive...As one who has moved on the 19th of December all I can say about the holidays is: keep it simple! Yikes, I would not want to move all my stuff...treat yourself kindly and do relax now and then, and take in some of the holiday splendor...and tea...always take time for a cup of tea...Take care, Debby
ReplyDeleteGosh, that seems like a major change of plans! Let's hope your move goes well and you come back to tell us how wonderful your new house is to you.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. I hope you will find much happiness in your new home.
ReplyDeleteI don't envy you. I moved in mid-December once and it is the worst. I hope everything goes smoothly for you. Best wishes to you.
ReplyDeletegood gracious what a life changing autumn season you have had. I'm another one who has moved in late December. Over time it has garnered lots of funny stories as memory softens the edges but at the time? Not so much...
ReplyDeleteBest wishes from me, too...
ReplyDeleteMy thought are with you ........ the longest we have been in one place is about 8 years. And the hardest shift was the shortest when it got to the point that anything you wanted was in the other house.
ReplyDeleteSo some advice ...... keep a list of box contents and just number the boxes. Sort some before you pack, but when you find the decision making too hard, leave the sorting until you get to the new house ....... I have chucked a few things I should have kept and cannot replace. Much easier to chuck when you are unpacking.
Others have already said to take time out .... absolute must!
Keep tea and coffee making supplies where you can reach them at a moments notice, and a a couple of days before the shift close the the rest of the kitchen ..... because you need to pack that too! You can survive on rubbish take aways for a week before you need real food again. (And the first real meal tastes sooo good!)
And to remind you of the season, pack a Christmas decoration on top, and find a place for it before you unpack anything else.
All the best with the packing, and look forward to seeing the new house!
well you sound calm and focused about it all in this post...i would be a wreck having to pack up and move this time of the year! you've gotten some good advice from other commentors...hangeth in there!
ReplyDeleteIn 2004 we moved from UK to Turkey and we are major bibliophiles, we owned around 3000 books. So a real cull took place and, while our gardening and cook books for reference did come out I also constantly asked myself "Can I find this on the internet?" and that lets you say goodbye to many books.
ReplyDeleteThe book moving dilemma, it's like your own personal reference library. Like Pat T said above, I too ask if I can find it on the internet and that determines if it goes. It's still tough. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteOh goodness I see we both have been packing and packing! Congrats on your new home Jen. We moved too - not far from our apartment but to a house and it's exciting but so tiring. So I can relate to the madness!
ReplyDeleteWishing you and your family a great Christmas even if it's amidst a lot of boxes and stuff :)
Merry Christmas, Jen. May your day be filled with goodness and joy.
ReplyDeleteDear Jen...hope you have yourself all moved into your new place and as settled as can be expected. What a difficult thing to do...moving during the holiday season. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are all moved in and enjoying the new house. I was in Baton Rouge for a day last month and thought of you.
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