Moving

Moving is a very interesting process. Each move for us has consisted of three phases.

The first phase in the process is the Cleaning/Selling phase. It consists of going through closets and drawers, totes and boxes looking for items that need to be thrown away or could be sold at the yard sale. Looking at each item asking questions such as- When was the last time I used this? Does this still work? Does this still have all the pieces? Is it still valid (coupons, etc.)? Once you sort through all the places in your house, closet, garage then you look to see what you've accumulated and labeled as "junk" that someone else might find useful and pay you for. Granted, they aren't going to pay you but one-fourth of the price that you paid for it, if you're lucky. However, the yard sale motto is "something is better than nothing".

Once the Cleaning/Selling phase is complete, then you can move on to Packing. This packing phase is typically organized and consists of packing items that you still use but not necessarily on a daily or maybe weekly basis. This is seasonal clothing and holiday decorations. It consists of photo albums, books, pictures, and movies. It is the stuff in the closet that was not deemed junk but remains in the closet. It gets packed neatly in a box. That box is taped and clearly labeled.

However, the closer the moving day comes the quicker you move to the third phase which is PACKING. Now PACKING is different than packing. This is crunch time. Everything must be moved and it must be moved NOW. It does not matter that you are putting books in the same box with your pots and pans. It was all in the kitchen, right? It doesn't matter that part of the box has kids toys and the rest of the box has adult clothing. It all belongs to someone that lives in the house, right? Yep, PACKING is the final phase...the most stressful phase....the phase that almost puts people over the edge and starts them thinking "Why are we moving again?"

Apparently, if I'm typing a blog about moving then I'm obviously in the packing phase and not the PACKING phase. Yes, the boxes I packed last night are taped up, they are like items, and it is clearly labeled. I have about five more weeks to be moved and I'm trying to get things organized and spaced out. I know that the PACKING phase will come but I'm hoping to minimize the effects for me, Jason, and the boys.