Word to the Wise: Moving

Over the past few weeks, I have become quite familiar with boxes upon boxes upon boxes. And while moving can be exciting (and sometimes sad), it can also be a hassle. So, assuming that I'm not the only one

out there who has trouble with this sort of thing, I've written a list of some of the things that I have learned.

When preparing for a move, if there is enough time, make sure to

Picture from Pop Circus.

1. Go through your stuff
2. Repeat #1 as necessary and as time allows
3. You may (read: will) still have too many things, so make a plan for where to put the things you're getting rid of when you begin to unpack at your new home - because by this point, you've probably definitely run out of time
4. If you're making a long-distance move, make sure to contact the moving company as soon as you find out the information they need to know. Otherwise you might be looking at a constrained window of opportunity (which we do not want!)
5. This may be your first BIG move, and if it is, then there is a whole slew of other things that you may need to consider. Things like...

• Furnishings (Regardless of the urges, leave the arranging til after you're there - you'll probably end up re-arranging. Multiple times.)
• Renters Insurance
• Talking with a realtor and your bank (keep everyone on the same page)

6. Another important thing to know is where your mail goes...and where (potentially gigantic) packages are held, because there is no way they're fitting into that tiny mailbox you have

7. Although I have not reached this point yet, I have heard that you should always keep your cleaning supplies easily accessible when actually moving into your new home (just in case other things decided to move in, as well)

And there are so many more aspects that could be considered. I suppose the most important thing is to maintain a good sense of humor and to not be afraid to let go of things. The memory isn't erased when the object is no longer there. On the other hand, if you wish to forget about something, you've got to realize that getting rid of an object that symbolizes who/whatever you are trying to forget will not make the memory disappear. Time is the only natural thing that eats away at the edges of memory.