Moving is the adult counterpart of high school—everybody is very excited about the thought, but it's only the people with reasonable expectations who end up having a good time. Yes, it's a new house, a new beginning, and the opportunity of a fabulous new life--but once that last empty truck pulls away and you are standing there amidst your boxes, you've still got to do the actual work.
Managing your move with realistic expectations is the key to beginning that new life on the right foot--and that means not only coming to terms with the fact that a new abode won't wondrously suck up the fifteen pounds you want to lose, but that moving is emotionally exhausting even in good circumstances and you and your family should allot the time and space to accept that.
One of the stragne things about a local move--new abode, neighborhoods, schools--is that can be harder on the kids than a long-distance relocation. A new residende across the country takes away the constant requests to go hang with their friends in the old neighborhood, and it could be easier to welcome a new life and new friends when your old ones are in a different time zone.
But let’s get back to the main point. There are three Ps to think about when managing your move to or in Little Rock--Purge, Pack, and Pay. What you do not purge will need to be packed, and the more you pack, the more you will pay. Expectation—I will get rid of old stuff and only keep what I love. Reality--you love lots more than you think you do. No matter if you do your own packing or employ a professional moving company, you've got to select what is worth the time and money to pack and move.
Purge
Purging is one of those weird terms you don't hear a lot, at least in a good connotation. However, releasing the old baggage is one of the best ways that you can let your new residence to meet your expectations of grandeur. There are all kinds of rules and tips to help you figure out the best methods to get rid of your old items, from pragmatic--"if you haven't used/worn it in a year get rid of it"; to a tad wacky--"toss all your negative energy out with the old towels". At its basic level, purging is basically going through all the cupboards, closets and drawers and forming three piles: take with you, get rid of, donate. Or you might have four piles if you have got a lot of next-to-new items that you don't need anymore, and consign those things.
A troublesome thing about purging is retaining the aloofness you need to be relentless about tossing things. If you stored all those pre-school paintings, how can you get rid of them and be a great parent? Here's a tip—ask a friend to help you sort through things and talk you through why you are keeping things that are really best out of the house. Having someone else ask you out loud why you want to keep the 1980s Walkman does put things in focus and you'll have a pain-free time growing the throw away pile if you've got someone to back-up your decisions.
If your partner is the one with the hoarder impulses, here is a strategy for assisting an unwilling participant say good-bye their treasures. Think small, and begin with the kitchen junk drawers, try to limit handling of old matchbooks and old crayons to one time only and progressively build to bigger possessions, like collections (for example, pick out two or three porcelain bunnies and donate or consign the rest).
Catch us next time as we review managing your move subjects: Pack and Pay, in Part 2 of this blog series.
